STURGIS – The Niles soccer team dropped a 5-1 decision to host Sturgis in a Big 16 Conference crossover match on Wednesday night.

The Trojans scored four goals in the first half and led 5-0 before the Vikings averted the shutout with a goal with just 7:32 remaining in the match.

Mikayla Kunce, Kelso Caywood, Lauren Kellogg and Holly Schepke all scored first half goals for Sturgis.

Schepke’s second goal of the match made it a 5-0 affair with 36:45 remaining in the second half.

Sam Sisk got the goal for the Vikings.

Catie Butler finished with eight saves for Niles.

Niles…1
Sturgis…5
Halftime score
Sturgis 4, Niles 0

First half
S – Mikayla Kunce 35:06
S – Kelsi Caywood 21:06 (Hayley Baker assist)
S – Lauren Kellogg 15:43
S – Holly Schepke 11:40 (Mackenzie Adams, Baker assists)

Second half
S – Schepke 36:45
N – Sam Sisk 7:32

Saves
Niles 8 (Catie Butler)
Sturgis 3 (Rachelle Brown, Amberly McMillin)

Plainwell at Dowagiac
DOWAGIAC – Visiting Plainwell, ranked No. 5 in Division 2, scored eight first half goals to defeat the Dowagiac varsity soccer team 8-0 in a Wolverine Conference match that was halted by the mercy rule Wednesday night.

Grace Howrigon scored three goals and had a pair of assists for the powerhouse Trojans.
Plainwell (10-1-1) outshot the Chieftains 13-0.

Dowagiac’s Jo Jo Pickar had five saves.

The match ended after the first 40 minutes.

“It wasn’t necessarily anyting we did wrong, it was everything that they did right,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “They girls did nothing wrong. We just couldn’t compete with the talent they have on that team. We had nothing for them.”

The Dowagiac junior varsity soccer team was blanked by visiting Plainwell 8-0.

The Chieftains (4-8-1) were outshot 18-3 by the Trojans.

“Even though we were outmatched, none of the girls gave up on the field,” Dowagiac coach Justin Rose said. “We played hard, but we could not stop their attacks.”

Plainwell…8
Dowagiac…0
Halftime score
Plainwell 8, Dowagiac 0

First half
P – Carlee Pallett 4th minute (Teresa Thiel assist)
P – Danielle Beery 12th minute (Hope Pell assist)
P – Grace Howrigon 13th minute (Alli Zimont assist)
P – Howrigon 15th minute (Beery assist)
P – Howrigon 20th minute (Pell assist)
P – Beery 35th minute (Howrigon assist)
P – Sierra Livingston 36th minute (Howrigon assist)
P – Livingston 38th minute (Pallett assist)

Shots on goal
Plainwell 18
Dowagiac 3

Saves
Plainwell 0 (Rachel Kellogg)
Dowagiac 5 (Jo Jo Pickar)