By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
PAW PAW - Despite getting the same number of shots on goal against the host Redskins on Saturday, the Dowagiac varsity soccer team dropped a 6-2 non-conference decision to Paw Paw.
Paw Paw jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half against the Chieftains and never looked back.
Dowagiac cut the lead to 3-1 by halftime and then to 3-2 in the 50th minute before Paw Paw scored the final three goals of the match to end the Chieftains' threat.
Tyler Wilson gave the host Redskins a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the contest. Paw Paw extended its advantage to 2-0 five minutes later on a goal by Justin Warner.
Paw Paw's Pat Butler made it 3-0 in the 26th minute.
Dowagiac finally found the back of the net one minute later as Alejandro Hernandez scored for the Chieftains.
The Chieftains (7-3) closed the gap to a goal early in the second half as Brian Edgerly scored to make it 3-2.
Wilson ended any hope of a Dowagiac comeback with a goal 13 minutes later.
Kolja Ofenhammer and Dan Coles scored back-to-back goals in the 78th and 79th minutes to complete the scoring.
Coles' goal came off a penalty kick.
Both teams were credited with 14 shots on goal.
Dowagiac returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Lakeshore in a pivotal Big 16 Conference West Division match.
The junior varsity team, which lost 1-0 to Paw Paw on Saturday, will face the Lancers at 4 p.m. with the varsity contest slated to start at 5:45.