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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels October 15, 2004 Golding or Garcia: it's just the goal that matters By Jennifer Squires Thomas Golding has scored 16 goals for the Grizzly boys' soccer team this season. Teammate Fabian Garcia-Flores has 15 to date. Ashland High senior Thomas Golding shares the Grizz scoring lead with senior Fabian Garcia-Flores. The two will need to be at the top of their game when Ashland (7-2) meets North Medford (6-2) on Saturday afternoon. Denise Baratta | The Associated Press Or maybe it's the other way around. The two senior strikers aren't sure and, although they both love the thrill of slicing the ball past the keeper and into the back of the net, at this point it doesn't matter who scores the most goals. "Whenever we've had an opportunity, we take it," Garcia said. "It hasn't gotten down to a competition, which is good because we might not be scoring as many goals." Right now, Ashland has things under control in the goal department. The Grizzlies (8-2 SOC) have outscored their opponents 35-11 in conference play this season. But Golding and Garcia realize that, with two weeks of SOC play remaining, Ashland cannot give up an inch, or a score. The top-ranked Grizzlies must face North Medford (6-2) and South Medford (6-2) - both teams lurk just a half-game behind Ashland in the conference standings - in a Saturday-Tuesday schedule that gives the Grizz little time to recover and regroup. Still, the senior all-star candidates have no doubt in the ability of their team. "I think right now we just have the most dynamic attack and score a lot of goals," Golding said. A shining duo Golding, who played on the JV team as an underclassman, missed his junior season because he was living in France. "He's one of those lucky kids to travel on the exchange program," Grizz soccer coach Eisa Tiaa Toutou said, explaining that the experience of playing in Europe has made Golding an even better soccer player. "He knows the game. His traveling through the world, I think, has given him an open mind to see the game in different perspectives." As a freshman, Golding would take it to the goal haphazardly, then get frustrated when the scores didn't pile up. But with time and traveling, the Division I hopeful has grown into "something completely dynamic" for the Grizzlies. "He's one of those talented, well-skilled players," Toutou said. "The more you push him, the more you get out of him. He looks for the challenge all the time." Teaming up with Garcia, whom Golding has played with from the Ashland U-10 team on through the prep ranks, has created a one-two scoring attack that few defensive sets can survive. There are even moments when Garcia takes the ball downfield and knocks it in just to help the Grizzlies focus on the match. "Sometimes Fabie takes responsibility and tries to take the game on his own," Toutou said. "Sometimes he has to score goals to help his team and make his team relax. It comes down to two simple things. "We both just want to score as many goals as we can and just win games," Golding said. The last Grizz win came against conference cellar-dweller Crater (1-8) on Tuesday. The match against North on Saturday afternoon brings Ashland right back into the battle for the SOC crown and the state playoffs. "If we keep our heads together, we do have a high chance of getting to the top, but everybody has to contribute and maintain," Garcia said. "We just need to play our game and not get nervous and know that we beat them before. "Don't make it hard just because it's going to be hard." DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams