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PREP SOCCER: Ashland edges North Eugene in MWL opener By Mail Tribune staff Updated: Oct 08, 2022 07:41 PM A A ASHLAND — The ball didn’t exactly bounce Ashland’s way early during its opening game of the Midwestern League boys soccer schedule, but the Grizzlies didn’t let that slow them one bit to secure a 3-2 win over North Eugene on Saturday. The visiting Highlanders reaped the benefits of some miscommunication in the back end of Ashland’s defense in the 20th minute to build a 1-0 lead that held up into halftime. “They had a high ball coming toward our defenders and one of our players tried to head it and our goalkeeper (Mateo Moore) said, ‘I’ve got it,’” said Ashland head coach Abdiaziz Guled of the play, “and all of a sudden the goalkeeper and defender are colliding and the ball is slowly going to the net by itself, just dribble, dribble, dribble and into the net.” After regrouping at intermission, Ashland came out determined and scored an equalizer in the 42nd minute off a build-up from the back where Ravi Guerrero played a ball in from center mid to freshman Luis Uhtoff, who delivered a shot into the right side of the goal. A few minutes later, the Grizzlies (3-3-1, 1-0 MWL) went up 2-1 when striker Mario Jacobson received a crossing pass and sent a low shot into the left corner of the goal. North Eugene (2-4-2, 0-1) added another improbable goal on a corner kick from the right side that saw the left-footed effort bend just inside the far post in the 63rd minute. With time dwindling down, Ashland was able to convert in the 78th minute for a game-winner when center midfielder Lupin Paz dribbled through a few defenders and ripped a shot into the net. “It was a great game; high pressure by everybody,” said Guled. “It’s the first league game, so everybody was bringing their true colors.” NORTH MEDFORD 5, SHELDON 1: North Medford’s reserve players played a pivotal role in the Southwest Conference victory at Hoffbuhr Field, with four goals coming from the Black Tornado bench. Matt Donovan got the scoring started for North Medford (6-4-1, 5-3-1 SWC) in the 15th minute when he broke into Sheldon territory on a through ball and warded off a defender before getting off a shot. The initial effort was stopped by Donovan stayed with it and deposited the rebound into the net. Sheldon (0-9-2, 0-8-1) answered about six minutes later in unlikely fashion when a long throw-in by Mika Lange toward the goal slipped through the hands of goalie Fernando Ortiz and into the goal. In the 25th minute, Ian Richardson supplied an answer for North when he cleaned up a corner kick that had not been cleared by the Irish. Juan Cordoba, who like Richardson had been subbed in, made it 3-1 in the 30th minute on a header following a corner kick by Jorge Moctezuma. Xinoe Ledesma scored two goals off the bench in the second half, with a crisp 50th-minute header following a cross by Richardson to highlight his effort. Jaden Roberts came on in goal in the second half and supplied a pair of impressive saves to keep Sheldon scoreless in the second half. CRATER 1, CHURCHILL 0: At Eugene, Crater junior Bennett Palodichuk went unassisted on a solo breakaway in the 67th minute to break a scoreless tie and allow the Comets to claim their Midwestern League opener on the road. Goalkeeper Diego Estrada earned his clean sheet for Crater (4-1-2, 1-0 MWL) with three solid saves in the final 13 minutes as Churchill (4-6, 0-1) pressed hard for an equalizer. Center backs Braiden Tester and Gib Gailey combined to close off the middle of the field defensively, with solid support on the outside from Parker Allen and Jack Nickerson. Girls SHELDON 5, NORTH MEDFORD 0: At Eugene, Sheldon used an early blitz to seal the Southwest Conference win, scoring four times in the first half to put North Medford on its heels. The Black Tornado (5-4-2, 4-3-2 SWC) had 10 shots on goal despite playing a player down due to a red card issued with about five minutes remaining in the first half but could not convert. Alexis Cockerill-Gonzalez scored a penalty kick among her four goals for Sheldon (9-0-1, 7-0-1) and Annika Leighton added another penalty kick goal. Claire Holcomb (right back) and Alia Villa (midfield) led the effort for North Medford. CHURCHILL 1, CRATER 0: At Eugene, Churchill scored the lone goal of the match in the first half and made that hold up against a Crater team that suffered its second straight shutout loss and fourth of the season. With the loss, the Comets dropped to 3-5-1 overall and 0-1 in MWL play. The Lancers moved to 2-8 and 1-0 in league. soccer.jpg