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52 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, November 15, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 14, 2004 Ashland advances to semifinals By JOE ZAVALA for the Mail Tribune PORTLAND — Temperatures in the 50s couldn’t keep Ashland High striker Thomas Golding from peeling off his shirt, and 10th-ranked Central Catholic couldn’t keep the Grizzlies out of the semifinals. Golding scored two goals and Ashland’s defense did the rest as the Grizzly boys soccer team used a second-half blitzkrieg to beat Central Catholic 3-1 Saturday, in the quarterfinal round of the OSAA Class 4A state championships at Central Catholic High School. The win advances the Grizzlies to the final four, where they will face Jesuit Tuesday in Ashland (15-3) for a berth to the finals. "It’s a good feeling," Ashland head coach Eisa Tiaa Toutou said. "It’s every coaches dream to make it to the final four and go from there to the finals and we hope to do it this Tuesday." Advertisement The Rams seemed to have all the momentum at halftime despite the scoreless tie, but that changed less than a minute into the second half. Ashland striker Fabian Garcia-Flores found Golding about 20 yards out and to the left. In an instant, Golding eluded one defender, gathered himself and struck the ball cleanly. It rocketed into the upper left hand corner of the goal, and Golding pulled his shirt over his head and spread his hands out like wings in a celebration that has become the kiss of death for Ashland opponents. "We hadn’t really tested the keeper yet and . I hit it perfectly," Golding said. "I thought it was going in as soon as I hit it. It felt good." Golding struck again seven minutes later, this time on a perfect pass from Rodrigo Ramos. Slashing his way toward the goal from the right side, Ramos delivered a head-high line drive to the streaking Golding, who headed it into almost the same spot as the first goal. Suddenly on the ropes, Central Catholic played desperate the rest of the way. Sloppiness ensued, and in the 60th minute Ashland freshman Alex Murray made the Rams pay by scoring Ashland’s final goal from point blank range. Corey Costantino’s pass in heavy traffic set up the goal. The Rams finally got on the board when Jared Lester scored in the 75th minute, but by then the Grizzlies were well on their way to earning a first-ever semifinal match in Ashland. "We scored the first goal at the beginning of the second half and from then on our spirits were high and we were just playing our hardest — and a lot of communication," Ashland senior fullback Cory Lescher said. "I’m stoked. I’ve been with this team for more than 10 years and they’re my closest friends and, win or lose, we have a great time. Now we’re going to go home with a big crowd." The bang-bang plays that lifted the Grizzlies in the second half nearly buried them in the first. Using a long ball, quick strike strategy to near perfection, the Rams created nine shots in the opening 40 minutes to Ashland’s four. But the Rams failed to convert each time, allowing the Grizzlies to rise out of some early-game jitters unscathed. The Rams had their chances. David Bloudel missed on a breakaway opportunity in the 24th minute and was wide left on another open 20-yard attempt just seven minutes later. Ashland goal keeper Greg Cross came through when the rest of Ashland’s defense couldn’t. He slapped two hard shots up and over the cross bar early on, was in perfect position for a 10- yard catch-save, and came up to cut off several Ram charges. "They didn’t put it away, and then the second half we go, ‘OK, we need to play our game and we need to control the ball, and if we control the ball we’ll control the tempo of the game, then we’ll have opportunities to score goals," Tiaa Toutou said. More than anything, though, Ashland’s skill on the ball proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome. Central Catholic tried to counter with muscle — things got a little too physical at times in the first half and two yellow cards were issued — but the Grizzlies didn’t flinch and ultimately devoured their second opposing defense in as many games. Now, Ashland is one win away from a trip to Tigard High School to play for a state title. "I think we have an excellent chance," Golding said. "I don’t think there’s any team out there that can really scare us. We’re playing at the top of our game and there’s really no reason we shouldn’t win state. "We just feel confident right now. We’re playing at our top level and we don’t feel like anything can stop us when we’re playing like this." Joe Zavala is sports editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 482-3456. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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