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Grizz girls overcome heat, hurts By JENNIFER SQUIRES Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland High girls soccer team is fit and, sometimes, that's just what it takes to win the game. The Grizzlies spent most of August drilling to achieve peak physical condition. In Saturday afternoon's non-league season-opener against Churchill, the superior conditioning showed. Ashland downed the Lancers 1-0 at North Mountain Park, persevering through 90-plus degree heat and injuries that left starting players without backups. "Being in good shape helped us stay in the game," said second-year head coach Eric Wolff. "Churchill's a great team." The Lancers know how to win. Last year, the Eugene school advanced to the second round of the state playoffs, where it lost 2-1 in overtime to West Linn. With plans to make the state sub-tournament, the Grizzlies need the experience of playing, and beating, teams like Churchill. "If you can win against such a team, you know you're doing something right," Wolff said. Early in the first half, the Grizzlies staged their attack. Sophomore fullback Kyra Norton booted the ball across midfield to junior captain and midfielder Sylvia Van Ausdal. Ausdal passed to sophomore midfielder Madeline Stokes. Stokes then knocked in the first and only goal of the game. "It was intense," said junior Grizz defender Laura Newton, an all-Southern Oregon Conference second-team selection in 2002. "I was really impressed today, especially without having very many subs." Due to injuries and other extenuating circumstances that kept players out of Saturday's game, Ashland only had 13 See SOCCER, Page 11 girls suit up. Normally the team's roster hovers close to 20 players. "We were tired," acknowledged Wolff. "Most of our centerfield were out or not able to play to the best of their ability." After their first-half strike, the Grizzlies relied heavily on their experienced backfield to keep the Lancers off the scoreboard. Churchill players pushed up the field, pressuring Ashland's less-experienced middle. While Ashland mustered less than five looks at Churchill's goalkeeper in the second half, the Lancers took more than 15 shots at Ashland sophomore goal keeper Alyson Yant. Yant stood her ground. "She played awesome," Newton said. "She was getting her hand on all the balls, didn't let one in." When the two-minute warning came, the Lancers fought hard to get the ball past Yant, who played her first full-length varsity game on Saturday. With seconds left in the game, Churchill was awarded their fourth corner kick of the half. Led by Yant and the all-SOC defensive duo of Newton and sophomore fullback Tess Golling, Ashland held the Lancers scoreless in the frenetic final seconds of the game. The Grizzlies' next preseason test comes Tuesday at Hidden Valley. The match begins at 4 p.m. Ashland opens league play at Roseburg Sept. 23. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -