After a scoreless first half, the goals came fast and furious as visiting Lake Michigan Catholic and Dowagiac battled in the season opener for the Chieftains Tuesday.

In the end, a goal off a direct kick by LMC’s Daniel McEachen with 35 seconds left in the match gave the Lakers a 3-2 victory.

Dowagiac and LMC put on quite a show in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.

After both teams failed to capitalize on scoring chances in the first 40 minutes of play, the Chieftains’ Adrian Martinez scored the first of his two goals in the 46th minute.

Back-to-back goals by the Lakers in the 50th and 52nd minutes by Aedan Colins and McEachen gave Lake Michigan a 3-2 advantage with plenty of time still left on the clock.

Martinez dribbled through the heart of the LMC defense again in the 55th minute to square the match at 2-2.

The score would remain that way until Dowagiac was whistled for a foul, which resulted in a direct kick for McEachen, who got it past Chieftain keeper Paul Lamphere for the winning goal.

“It was what I expected in that it should have been even,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “We played well. I thought it was way above what I thought we were ready to play right now. I didn’t think we would move the ball and possess the ball the way we did.

“I have two returns on offense and the rest are either subs from last year or defenders from last year. They moved the ball well. We were unlucky on the shots.”

Dowagiac gets right back on the pitch Wednesday as it hosts another perennial power in Bridgman. The match is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

 

Lake Michigan…3

Dowagiac…2

Halftime score

Lake Michigan 0, Dowagiac 0

 

Second half

D – Adrian Martinez 46th minute

LMC – Aedan Collins 50th minute

LMC – Daniel McEachen 52nd minute

D – Martinez 55th minute

LMC – McEachen 80th minute

 

Shots on goal

LMC – 18

Dowagiac -15

 

Saves

LMC – 10 (Stephen Nickel)

Dowagiac – 12 (Paul Lamphere)

 

Records

Dowagiac 1-0