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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us November 5, 2004 Grizz glide into playoffs By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Ask Ashland High boys' soccer coach Eisa Tiaa Toutou about the key to his team's success, and he'll likely ramble off a series of soccer terms that the average fan would have trouble interpreting, much less understanding. Grizz senior Brady Case makes a move against a South Medford player during the conference championship match versus the Panthers last week. Ashland won the game to clinch first place in the SOC. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings But his summation is simple enough: "We play a beautiful game," he said. Simple, but true. The streaking, Southern Oregon Conference-champion Grizzlies (12-2) play the Springfield Millers Saturday in the first round of the 32-team Class 4A state tournament. The game starts at 1 p.m. at the Ashland Middle School upper field, where Ashland has not lost in eight tries this season. The Grizzlies are riding high after clinching the SOC championship with consecutive wins over North Medford and South Medford. Following that spectacular four-day run, the Grizzlies shut down eighth-ranked Mountain View 2-0 before ending the regular season with a dominating win over Klamath Union. Ashland has done it with a dynamic offense backed up by a drum-tight defense. Senior strikers Fabian Garcia-Flores and Thomas Golding have received most of the glory, each taking turns scoring in bunches. But Ashland's midfield and defense also has spent the better part of the season frustrating Grizzly opponents. Senior midfielders Corey Costantino and Cory Fisher have become ball control machines as well as scoring threats, while senior fullback Cory Lescher and junior sweeper Nico Walker are excelling on defense. On the rare occasion that a team does get off a decent shot, Grizzly keepers Justin Greenberg (senior) and Gregory Cross (junior) have also been solid. "We just dominated by how we play our game, and fortunately we have the best player in the league this year," said Tiaa Toutou, referring to Garcia-Flores. While Ashland has feasted on SOC teams this season, losing only one early contest to South Medford and another to Grants Pass - the Grizzlies are 5-0 since the Oct. 5 upset -they will likely face a new brand of soccer in the playoffs. That's because the teams from up north, especially the Portland-area squads, are more physical, a style that the Grizzlies don't see too much in league play. A little postseason bumping didn't prevent South Medford from winning the state title last season, however, and Tiaa Toutou hopes the Grizzlies will adjust equally as well this year. "Expect everything," he said. "You just have to play your game." If the Grizzlies get past Springfield, they'll play either Mountain View or Milwaukie on Tuesday, with the game site and time to be determined. Also on Ashland's side of the bracket are second-ranked Jesuit, fourth-ranked McNary, fifth-ranked McMinnville and 10th-ranked Central Catholic. Top-ranked South Eugene is in the top of the bracket. Tiaa Toutou believes his team has the talent and the right mind set to make a serious run at a state championship. "We have a scrimmage every day and we talk every day and we're improving and we're looking good," he said. "We're ready. It's great to get the opportunity to play at home in front of our fans and this should be a good game." DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams