By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN -- It took just 24 seconds for Buchanan to get on the board, but it took a full game to seal a spot in the championship game of the Lakeland Conference Soccer Tournament with a 5-2 win over Berrien Springs Wednesday night.
Buchanan's Jon Peel scored 24 seconds into the game off a throw-in assist by Chris Cecco, but Berrien Springs tied the game just six minutes later on a goal by Robbie Schadt.
Doug Summers scored the first of his three goals with 11:46 remaining in the first half off an assist from Jose Gonzalez.
Summers scored the first goal of the second half, heading in a rebound of his own shot after a cross from Rodney Tembo.
Schadt scored again for the Shamrocks, on a penalty kick with 16:41 left in the game.
Summers completed the hat trick with an unassisted goal in the 75th minute. Cecco added another goal off an assist from Peel in the 78th minute.
Buchanan outshot Berrien 21-15 and Josh Wahlstrom had 11 saves for the Bucks. Coy Grubb stopped 13 shots for the Shamrocks.
Buchanan will face the winner of the Edwardsburg-Bridgman semifinal in Saturday's title game at River Valley's field in New Troy. The game is set for noon with the consolation match set for 10 a.m.
The win lifted the Bucks to12-5-3 and dropped Berrien Springs to 10-4-2.
Buchanan beat both Edwardsburg and Bridgman during the regular season. The Bucks beat each team by one goal.