Due to the way the tiebreaker rules were at the Chieftains Invitational, host Dowagiac had to score nine or more goals in the first half against River Valley Saturday in order to win the championship for a third straight year.

That’s exactly what the Chieftains did in defeating the Mustangs 9-0 and claiming the trophy.

Due to a mix up following Dowagiac’s 1-1 tie with Niles in the opening match of the day, the tiebreaker was most goals scores or the fastest goal scored.

Originally, there should have been a shoot out in the first match to determine a winner.

Niles defeated River Valley 8-0 in the second match and scored the first goal in just 1:20.

When Dowagiac hit the field for the finale of the tournament, it knew what it had to do.

The Chieftains did not get the fastest goal scored, so it had to put up nine goals against a young and inexperienced River Valley squad.

Dowagiac had no trouble doing so as it had nine goals on the board with nearly seven minutes remaining in the opening half. The match did not continue in the second half due to the mercy rule.

Breanna Williams, who scored the lone goal in the match against the Vikings, had a pair of goals in the win over the Mustangs. Kelsie Primley added a goal and an assist.

“We played kickball against Niles in the first half and that’s why we didn’t have a goal,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “We played better soccer in the second half, but the outcome wasn’t how we wanted it.

“It’s a good win, but we now have that one tie.”

McKayla Book had three goals, while Kaytlyn Miller had three assists for the Vikings in their victory over River Valley.

Miller scored the only goal for Niles in the opening match against Dowagiac.

Chieftain Invitational

At Dowagiac

First match

Niles…1

Dowagiac…1

Halftime score

Niles 0, Dowagiac 0

Second half

D – Breanna Williams 37th minute (Amanda Hassle assist)

N – Kaytlyn Miller 52nd minute (Alexis Arnold assist)

Shots on goal

Niles 8

Dowagiac 9

Saves

Niles 7 (Sarah Smith)

Dowagiac 6 (Alyssa Fritz)

Second match

Niles…8

River Valley…0

Halftime score

Niles 7, River Valley 0

First half

N – Victoria Sowers 2nd minute

N – Margaret Hoff 13th minute

N – Abigail Gaines 15th minute (Hoff assist)

N – McKayla Book 19tht minute (Miller assist)

N – Book 21st (Miller assist)

N – Book 23rd minute (Miller assist)

N – Arnold 26th minute

Second half

N – Book 34th minute (Haley Akey assist)

Shots on goal

Niles 23

River Valley 0

Saves

Niles 0 (Smith)

River Valley 10

Third match

River Valley…0

Dowagiac…9

Halftime score

Dowagiac 9, River Valley 0

First half

D – Christina Preston 8th minute (Kelsie Primley assist)

D – Kelsey Bannow 8th minute

D – Primley 13th minute

D – Breanna Williams 14th minute (Brooke Parritt assist)

D – Williams 17th minute

D – Paloma Medina 19th minute

D – Lauren Krueger 20th minute

D – Cinthia Sanchez 21st minute

D – Amanda Hassle 23rd minute

Shots on goal

River Valley 0

Dowagiac 9

Saves

River Valley 7

Dowagiac 0 (Alyssa Fritz)

Varsity records

Niles 2-1-1, Dowagiac 4-0-1