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Fit to be tied photo by Drew Fleming Pirates, Grizz play to 2-2 tie in opening tilt for both teams TALENT - Sometimes a tie feels like a win; other times a tie hurts like a loss. The Phoenix and Ashland High girls soccer teams played to a 2-2 deadlock in season-opening action at Colver Field on Thursday. But it was the Pirates feeling good after they scored twice in the last 20 minutes to rally from a 2-0 deficit. Sophomore forward Kim Tiger knocked home the equalizer in dramatic fashion, sprinting on to a long chip from junior sweeper Mara Supan and finishing with just seconds remaining. "They got the ball back to the center circle, and the ref blew the game closed," Phoenix coach John Doty said. "I feel good about the end result, but I wish we could have gotten to it in a little more elegant way." Freshman forward Jaclyn Unruh, who played the first half in goal, tallied the Pirates' inaugural goal of the season on an assist from Tiger with about 20 minutes to play. The Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead about 30 minutes into the first half on junior midfielder Aura Dolan's completion of a pretty cross from freshman midfielder Sylvia Van Ausel. Ashland upped its edge to 2-0 about 15 minutes into the second half when sophomore forward Kim Thompson stripped a Phoenix player and beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one showdown. From there, the match rolled downhill for the Grizzlies and coach Iman Siadat. "The tie was essentially a loss for us," said Siadat, who graduated 11 seniors from the squad that finished 2-6 in Southern Oregon Conference play last season. "We're young and strong but not experienced enough yet. But we'll get there, I hope." Coming off its first losing season (6-8-1) in seven years, Phoenix should be back in the District 6 title mix, Doty said. "I'm feeling much better about this year," said the second-year head coach, who singled out the defensive work of freshman fullback Robin Singleton in Thursday's match. "On the whole, I thought this was a good out-of-the-gate game." Ashland is host to North Salem at 1 p.m. Saturday at North Mountain Park. The Pirates play in their own jamboree beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at Colver Field. The Phoenix boys are also featured, and the event totals six girls teams and 10 boys squads. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.