ASHLAND — Just when coach Brad Roupp thought Adam Pavlich couldn't possibly do anything more, the junior forward for Ashland pushed in the game-winning goal in a 3-2 nonconference boys soccer victory over North Medford Thursday.
Pavlich was the final link as Derek Owens-Oas passed to Nate Roupp, who headed it toward the goal and watched Pavlich kick it in in the 78th minute at Ashland Middle School.
"He was a young man at work," said Brad Roupp, who is also Nate's dad. "He was playing hard, going to the ground, getting back up. I had a sub ready to pull him out because he'd gone too far and was too tired. I was ready to settle for a tie and congratulate him on the sidelines for a game well played, but he did not want a tie."
The Grizzlies, who are 3-1, had a taxing match against South Medford on Tuesday and fatigue seemed to set in, said coach Roupp.
The score was 0-0 at halftime as both teams battled evenly into the second.
North Medford lost 15 seniors off last year's team but is ahead of schedule in their performance, said coach Matt Soper.
Nevertheless, it fell behind when Simon Linsday of Ashland had a 60-yard carry up the middle and scored in the 52nd minute.
The Black Tornado evened the match after sweeper Dylan Schwarm's 35-yard shot hit the crossbar, the ball bounded out and then was crossed to Jorge Maldonado, who deposited it.
Then Pavlich took over in the finals three minutes.
"They're big," said Soper, "but we dealt with it for the most part. We had a couple of breakdowns, and when you do that with a good team, they're going score. We had our chances as well. It was a pretty even match."
North is 1-2-1 and opens Southwest Conference play Tuesday at South Medford.
BEND 6, GRANTS PASS 0 — At Bend, six different players scored goals as Bend won the nonconference match easily over short-handed Grants Pass (1-3).
Bend's Ryan Candella scored in the third minute on one of two assists in the game by Tadd Kilmer, and Sean Dougherty scored an unassisted goal three minutes later. Dan Secor, Zach Reynolds, Cole Timm and Jared Doolan added goals for Bend.
Bend (3-0) outshot Grants Pass, 28-14.
EAGLE POINT 8, ILLINOIS VALLEY 0 — At Cave Junction, Alex Rodriguez, Ernesto Esquivel and Andres Tavarez each scored two goals in the nonconference rout for Eagle Point (3-0-1). Juan Pulido and Juan Palomares also added one goal each. Jose Rizo had two assists.
Illinois Valley (0-3) had its best scoring opportunity come in the second half on a penalty kick in the box following a hand-ball violation. The ensuing shot, however, sailed over the goal.
Girls
CASCADE CHRISTIAN 3, EAGLE POINT 2 — At Eagle Point, Kaitlyn Emard scored twice, including the eventual game winner in the first half, to lead Cascade Christian in the nonconference game.
Emard's final goal made it 3-1 and came in the 27th minute following a shot by teammate Becky Eustace that caromed off the goalie. Five minutes earlier, Emard won a one-on-one battle with the keeper for her other score.
The Eagles took the early lead when Kaylee Tuttle scored off a corner kick just one minute into the game. The Challengers (2-1) tied it in the sixth minute on a Carly Smith goal. Ashley Hyde worked hard to get the ball upfield, then she fed Eustace, who dished to Smith.
The lone score of the second half was a solo effort in the 60th minute by EP's Sarah Lilly.