Grizzlies top Crater, stay perfect

MEDFORD &

Ashland High&

s fabulous freshman Casey Skolnik scored a hat trick in the first period and Mark Rasmussen was solid in the net as the Grizzly hockey team skated past Crater, 5-2, Saturday night at the RRRink.

Skolnik finished with four goals, including his first just eight seconds into the game, to help Ashland improve to 4-0 in the Southern Oregon Conference and 5-0 overall.

Rasmussen did the rest, deflecting shot after shot against a Crater offense that was shutout through two periods.

The Comets scored twice in the third to cut Ashland&

s lead to 4-2. Robert Hayward scored both &

the second coming with 2:05 to

go.

— — ASHLAND SENIOR GOAL KEEPER Mark Rasmussen makes — a save during Saturday night&

s win.

The comeback was shortlived. With the crowd on its feet anticipating a close finish, Skolnik answered the applause emphatically by scoring his final goal of the night with 1:36 left. The slap shot from point-blank range sent the Grizzlies into the halfway point of the season undefeated and in solid position to nab another conference title.

&

This is a good win for us to finish the first half (of the regular season) and set up the second half,&

said Ashland coach Chris Bonelli.

Skolnik bolted up the ice and connected on his first shot to give the Grizzlies a quick 1-0 lead. He added another off a nice assist from Tiffany Schoonover with 9:07 to go in the first.

Skolnik completed the hat trick with 4:05 to go in the first period on a one-timer from 10 yards out that hit high in the net.

Ashland faces Portland at 10:15 a.m. Sunday at the RRRink.