By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

In preparing for Monday’s Division 3 district opener, Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said that his team didn’t care what the record of its opponent was.

Williams prepared his team to win a district championship, but not to play any one particular team.
The preparation seems to be going well so far as the Chieftains blanked host Brandywine 7-0.

Dowagiac will now face Buchanan in the semifinals on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Berrien Springs.

Dowagiac scored early and often in the first half.

The Chieftains grabbed a 6-0 halftime lead and then played ball control the final 40 minutes of the match.

Adrian Martinez opened the scoring in the fourth minute off an assist from Hazen McMeeken, who made it 2-0 in the 11th minute off an assist from Craig Zebell.

Zebell then scored back-to-back goals in the 24th and 36th minutes to increase the Chieftains’ advantage to 4-0.

Juan Meza had the first of three assists and Americo Martinez had the first of his two assists on the Zebell tallies.

The final two goals of the half were scored by Andrew Cripe and Drew Luthringer.

Americo Martinez and Meza had the assists.

Dowagiac scored its final goal nine minutes into the second half when Alvaro Scherer beat Brandywine keeper Jason Andrews by heading a corner kick by Meza into the back of the net.

“Our goal here was to play like we would play any team regardless of their record or how good they were,” Williams said. “Meaning stay tight, win balls, move the ball and counter attack really hard.

“And we didn’t do it, so that’s why I am yelling continuously, regardless of how we are doing goal wise. We’re not just playing Brandywine today, we’re playing for a district championship this week. So we’ve got to play like that every day regardless of how we play,” he added.

Dowagiac (10-8) outshot the Bobcats 17-3.

Chieftain goalkeeper Jason Turner was credited with one save.

Brandywine’s Andrews had seven saves.

“The effort I got in the second half I was looking for the whole game and we just didn’t get it,” Brandywine coach Jim McNamara said. “We haven’t able to put 80 minutes together all year.”

Buchanan…2
Bangor…3
BANGOR – Playing without its starting goalkeeper and its leading scorer sitting out the second half with a red card, visiting Buchanan was eliminated from the district tournament.

Host Bangor scored a 3-2 win over the Bucks to advance to Wednesday’s semifinal against Dowagiac.

The Vikings scored all three of their goals in the opening 40 minutes of play.

Buchanan got its goals from Ryan Catalano with an assist from Tony Payne in the first half and from Zack Pierce in the second half.

The Bucks outshot the Vikings 11-7. Jerrod Wardlaw had three saves for Buchanan.

Dowagiac…7
Brandywine…0
Halftime score
Dowagiac 6, Brandywine 6

First half
D – Adrian Martinez 4th minute (Hazen McMeeken assist)
D – McMeeken 11th minute (Craig Zebell assist)
D – Zebell 24th minute (Juan Meza assist)
D – Zebell 36th minute (Americo Martinez assist)
D – Andrew Cripe 37th minute (Americo Martinez assist)
D – Drew Luthringer 40th minute (Meza assist)

Second half
D – Alvaro Scherer 49th minute (Meza assist)

Shots on goal
Dowagiac 17
Brandywine 3

Saves
Dowagiac 1 (Jason Turner)
Brandywine 7 (Jason Andrews)