Niles’ Cicone Palimore scored a goal for the Vikings on Saturday as they defeated host Niles 3-1. It was the second victory in seven days for Niles over the Bobcats. (Daily Star photos/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)

By DON EDEN

Niles Daily Star

The Niles cup of soccer was again golden for the Vikings Saturday as they beat host Brandywine 3-1 after winning 2-1 a week earlier with an own goal by the Bobcats proving to be the difference.

“Niles is a high caliber team which will help us in conference play, but I am happy with the team effort as we are getting better every game,” commented Brandywine coach Evan Winkler. “Our leadership is great this year with 10 seniors on the team and that was the reason over a dozen players showed up consistently this summer to get better.”

It only took 1:42 for Niles (3-0-1) to take an early lead as junior Christian Rackley led classmate Cicone Palmore perfectly down the left side of the field and Palmore finished with a lefty low shot to the left of Bobcat senior goalie Jason Andrews to dent the net.

Andrews kept the score the same the rest of the half with four nice saves as the Vikings shot 10 times with Brandywine (2-2) unable to penetrate the Niles defense. A couple of corner kick opportunities for the Bobcats occurred but a header off a bouncing ball to an empty net was whiffed and a scramble scrum in front failed to materialize.

“I am happy with everything except finishing shots. We need to get better as our possession of the ball is good and the defense played well,” stated Niles coach Jerry Holtgren. “We have very good leadership with three large capable classes in a row as our feeder program is improving which leads to teams that the school will be proud to support.”

The depth of the Vikings showed it prowess in the second half as again Andrews saved goals until a long shot by sophomore Chase Hullinger with 17 minutes left to play hit the post and the Bobcat clear found the net instead. Three minutes later Rackley took advantage of a stunned Bobcat squad as he waited in front of Andrews for a chip shot after a feed from senior Dustin Wright.

“I would like to congratulate Brandywine for playing hard in a competitive game as we are looking forward to playing the tougher opponents and expecting to win them all,”  said Niles senior defender Kassim Dafa. “We are a team on and off the field and watch out for each other to get better day by day to play against the other teams in the conference.”

The shutout on shots and score was averted with just under ten minutes to play when a 20-yard direct kick by Bobcat senior Jacob Wieger rolled to the left corner of the net.

“Our wall jumped on the direct kick goal which is not good, but the Brandywine keeper played hard to keep it close,” concluded Holtgren.

Scoring Summary

First Half

Niles – Cicone Palmore 2nd minute Christian Rackley assist

Shots – Niles 10, Brandywine 0

Saves – Ryan Casey (N) 0, Jason Andrews (B) 4

Corner kicks – Niles 2, Brandywine 2

Second Half

Niles – own goal Brandywine 73rd minute

Niles – Rackley 76th minute Dustin Wright assist

Bran – Jacob Wieger 80th minute

Shots – Niles 20 (30), Brandywine 1 (1)

Saves – Derek Arguello (N) 0, Andrews 11 (15)

Corner kicks – Niles 1 (3), Brandywine 0 (2)

Records – Niles 3-0-1, Brandywine 2-2