By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

Four goals in the span of 14 minutes in the second half helped lift the Dowagiac soccer team to a 5-3 Wolverine Conference victory over visiting Comstock Wednesday afternoon.

Leading just 1-0 at halftime, Dowagiac’s Hazen McMeeken and Craig Zebell both scored two goals to help the Chieftains build up a 5-0 lead.

Comstock cut the lead to 5-1 just seconds after Dowagiac’s five goal and then added a pair of scores late to help make the score look a bit more respectable.

“We are coming together and showing the drive needed to compete the rest of the year,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “If we continue playing this way and are able to get our injured  seniors (Robert Andrade and Drew Luthringer) on the field we will be in good shape for district play.”

McMeeken opened the scoring in the first half just five minutes into the match.

The Dowagiac sophomore then opened the second half scoring and the goal spree with a goal in the 42nd minute.

Zebell found the back of the net nine minute later (51st minute) and the Chieftains had a 3-0 advantage on the Colts.

Back-to-back goals by McMeeken, his third of the match, and Zebell in the 54th and 56th minutes appeared to have turned the match in a rout.

But Comstock’s Colin Taylor averted the shutout for the Colts with a goal in the 57th minute to make it a 5-1 match.

It would stay that way for nearly 20 minutes before Comstock got two late goals as Dowagiac coach Mike Williams substituted freely.

Dowagiac outshot Comstock 28-9 in the contest.

Chieftain goalkeeper Jason Turner stopped six of Comstock’s nine shots.

Comstock…3
Dowagiac…5
Halftime score
Dowagiac 1, Comstock 0

First half
D – Hazen McMeeken 5th minute

Second half
D – McMeeken 42nd minute
D – Craig Zebell 51st minute
D – McMeeken 54th minute
D – Zebell 56th minute
C – Colin Taylor 57th minute
C – Quinton McBride 71st minute
C – Jacob Shultz 73rd minute

Shots on goal
Comstock 9
Dowagiac 28

Saves
Dowagiac 6 (Jason Turner)
Comstock 17