Host Niles got a pair of goals from sophomore Jaycee Myer as it opened its season with a 3-0 win over Dowagiac Wednesday.

The Vikings (1-0) grabbed a 1-0 lead on the season’s first goal by Emily Gaines in the seventh minute.

Myer scored her first goal in the ninth minute as Niles took a 2-0 lead.

Neither team would score in the final 31 minutes of the opening half as the play went back and forth with both squads getting scoring chances.

Seventh minutes into the second half, Myer picked up her second goal and capped the scoring in the 57th minute.

The Vikings outshot the Chieftains 16-6.

Bailee Kessler had six saves for Niles, while Grace Younger had 13 saves for Dowagiac, which drops to 0-2.

“This game is a tough one to swallow,” Dowagiac coach Ryan Haines said. “Mentally we were prepared to play, but mistakes took over and we lost all focus. Niles is a young team like us and took advantage of our mistakes. It will be interesting to see what the future hold for both of the programs.”

 

Dowagiac…0

Niles…3

Halftime Score

Niles 2, Dowagiac

 

First Half

N – Emily Gaines 7th minute

N – Jaycee Myer 9th minute

 

Second Half

N – Myer 57th minute

 

Shots on Goal

Dowagiac 6

Niles 16

 

Saves

Niles 6 (Bailee Kessler)

Dowagiac 13 (Grace Younger)

 

Varsity records

Dowagiac 0-2, Niles 1-0