By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES - No one probably expected a penalty kick exactly four minutes into Thursday's non-conference soccer match between Niles and crosstown rival Brandywine to be the difference.
But Kalie Newman's goal was the difference as Brandywine picked up its first victory in two years with the 1-0 decision over the Lady Vikings.
Brandywine (1-10) has been in plenty of matches this season, but just hasn't been able to get over the hump and pick up that first win.
Niles (4-7-1) has been up and down this year, dominating play but failing to finish the job.
The Lady Vikings dominated the play again on Thursday but were unable to finish off the Lady Bobcats.
Niles held a 26-10 advantage in shots on goal, but it was the defense of Brandywine and the play of sweeper Katie Smallwood and keeper Amelia Harrison that was the difference.
Both Smallwood and Harrison are freshmen, who according to co-coach Jim McNamara, have been getting better with each match.
McNamara said that the win was big, not only because it was the first win of the season, but against Niles.
Peters felt that her squad was too anxious on offense.
Brandywine heads back into action on Saturday when it competes in the Edwardsburg Invitational against the host Lady Eddies, Buchanan and Bridgman. The tournament is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
Niles will host the first round of the Big 16 Conference Tournament on Monday against Battle Creek Harper Creek. The junior varsity match is set to begin at 4 p.m. with the varsity contest to follow.
Big 16 Soccer
Portage Central and Lakeshore will hold down the top two seeds in the Big 16 Conference soccer tournament which is set to begin on Monday.
The Mustangs, Lancers, Portage Northern, Sturgis, Mattawan, Battle Creek Lakeview, St. Joseph and Kalamazoo Central will all compete in the Silver Tournament.
Marshall, Battle Creek Central, Niles, Dowagiac, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Battle Creek Harper Creek, Coldwater and Benton Harbor will compete in the Black Tournament.
Dowagiac and Niles will both host first round games.
The Chieftains will host Loy Norrix at 5 p.m. on Monday.
Niles will host Harper Creek on Monday beginning with the junior varsity match at 4 p.m. The varsity match will start at approximately 5:45 p.m.
Also in the Black Tournament, Marshall will host Coldwater, while Battle Creek Central will host Benton Harbor.
In the Silver Tournament, Portage Central will host Kalamazoo Central, Sturgis will host Mattawan, Portage Northern will host Lakeview, while Lakeshore will host St. Joseph.