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Ashland emerges from shootout with Tualatin, 3-2 By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN ASHLAND -- When two snarling defenses collided Tuesday in the second round of the Class 4A state boys soccer playoffs, something had to give. After nearly three hours of pushing, shoving, kicking, constant bickering and three near-fights, it was finally the Tualatin Timberwolves who gave ground. Grudgingly. With their top two goalkeepers (Peter Borsch and Matt Cope) knocked out of the match with separated shoulders and three other starters (Kyle Holland, Matt Germer and Nate Alvstad) on the sidelines with injuries suffered in the match, Tualatin fell to Ashland, 3-2, in an emotional shootout at Ashland Middle School. Ashland put in four goals to two by the Timberwolves in the shootout to preserve its unbeaten record (12-0-4) and advance to the third round of the state playoffs Saturday. Tualatin's (9-1-6) first loss ended its season. On Saturday, Ashland meets the Centennial-Corvallis winner at a site to be determined later. "It was a physical game and a lot of it was dirty," said Ashland sophomore striker Scott Beaver, who scored two goals, including the fourth in the shootout. "A lot of it had to do with the referees not keeping the game under control. It was definitely out of control." Five yellow cards were issued, including three against Ashland, and tempers flared through much of the match. When it was over, tempers were still sizzling. An emotional confrontation between players on both sides ensued during the post-match handshakes, touching off an ugly scene in front of the Ashland bench. Administrators and coaches from both schools intervened to end the finger-pointing and name-calling. "It (fiery tempers) has been a chronic problem for us," said Beaver. "We didn't control ourselves very well, but they didn't either. "But a win is a win, and we're moving on (in the playoffs)." Peter Grossman, Zack Potocki, Brett Peterson and Beaver scored goals for the Grizzlies in the shootout, while Alvstad and Matthew Onhelber scored for Tualatin. The Grizzlies got goals from Eric Sharp and Beaver in the first half to take a 2-1 lead. Tualatin tied the match at 2-2 when Trevor Sarazin scored on an assist from Casey Holland. Sarazin, who hadn't played goalkeeper all season for the Timberwolves, ended up in goal during the pressure-packed shootout. The Grizzlies kicked in four straight goals against him, including the match-ender by Beaver. "The keeper was looking left, so I decided to shoot to my left," said Beaver. "I was fortunate to get it in the left corner." Ashland coach Eisa Tiaa Tou Tou was not pleased with his team's play, especially in the second half. "We controlled the ball pretty well in the first half and got the shots we needed to lead 2-1 at halftime," said Tou Tou. "We played a sloppy second half, and we had to start picking it up for the overtime. "But our kids played solid defense all day, and that was the difference." Ashland goalkeeper Noah Shields finished the defensive stand for the Grizz by stopping two shots in the shootout. "There's a lot of pressure in a shootout, especially in the playoffs, when the loser is done," said Shields, a 6-foot-4 junior, who leaped to snare a high shot headed for the left corner of the net by Tualatin's Richie Burris. "It felt good to get that one." The shootout ended when Cameron Chase of Tualatin fired his shot wide left of the goal. Tou Tou said he doesn't need to apologize for his team's physical style of play. But he said he wouldn't condone temper tantrums and extracurricular pushing and shoving by his players. "The players who did that sat by me on the bench for a while," said Tou Tou. "But our game is being physical and tough. This is not a dancing party. It's a physical game that you have to be tough to play." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.