By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

A flurry of goals late in the match got the Dowagiac soccer team closer to Vicksburg, but the Chieftains couldn’t quite complete the comeback.

Trailing 6-1, Dowagiac scored three consecutive goals in a three minute stretch to cut the lead to 6-4 with 11 minutes left to play in its Wolverine Conference match against visiting Vicksburg.

Dowagiac also had a goal called back due to an offsides that would have made things even more interesting.

But the Bulldogs were able to hold off the Chieftains for a 6-4 victory Monday night.
Vicksburg took advantage of several defensive breakdowns in the opening 40 minutes of play to forge a 3-1 lead at halftime.

Danielle Peterson scored in the eighth minute and Jenna Ruimveld scored the first of her three goals in the 19th minute to make it a 2-0 match.

Dowagiac’s Morgan Tanzillo cut the lead to 2-1 with the first of her three goals in the 16th minute.

A goal by Bailey Windle in the 24th minute and then back-to-back goals in the 41st and 42nd minute to start the second half allowed Vicksburg to break open the match – or so everyone thought.

Ruimveld and Shaylin Laure scored the two quick goals to start the second half and when Ruimveld completed the hat trick eight minutes later, the lead reached 6-1 in favor of the Bulldogs.

But back came the Chieftains in the final 15 minutes to make a match of it.

Brea Williams got the ball rolling with a goal in the 67th minute and then Tanzillo netted back-to-back tallies in the 68th and 69th minutes to complete the scoring.

Vicksburg held a 25-23 advantage in shots on goal.

Alyssa Fritz was credited with 19 saves.

“We played flat the end of the first half and the beginning of the second,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “In order to compete we have to play with intensity for 80 minutes and we did not tonight. We look forward to Wednesday against Allegan to prove we can play for 80 minutes.”

Vicksburg…6
Dowagiac…4
Halftime score
Vicksburg 3, Dowagiac 1

First half
V – Danielle Peterson 8th minute
V – Jenna Ruimveld 19th minute
D – Morgan Tanzillo 16th minute
V – Bailey Windle 24th minute

Second half
V – Ruimveld 41st minute
V – Shaylin Laure 42nd minute
V – Ruimveld 50th minute
D – Brea Williams 67th minute
D – Tanzillo 68th minute (Williams assist)
D – Tanzillo 69th minute

Shots on goal
Vicksburg 25
Dowagiac 23

Saves
Vicksburg 17
Dowagiac 19 – Alyssa Fritz