By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
GRANDVILLE - For the second consecutive year the Dowagiac varsity soccer team was just moments away from sending a match into overtime.
Last year the Chieftains dropped a 1-0 decision to Muskegon Oakridge with just over a minute to play.
On Wednesday the Chieftains were 1.3 seconds away from a second overtime against Forest Hills Eastern in the Division 3 regional semifinals.
No one would have believed that lightning could strike the Chieftains twice at the regional tournament, but it did.
Eric Parks scored as time was winding down and darkness had all but fallen in Grandville.
Parks got around the Dowagiac defense with his speed and his shot and Dowagiac goalkeeper Aaron Wilson reached the near post at approximately the same time with the ball just getting into the upper right corner.
The shot gave Forest Hills Eastern a 3-2 victory and gave Dowagiac a feeling of deja vu.
Dowagiac gave it a great effort for the second straight year, but were once again turned away from the school's first-ever appearance in a regional final.
Forest Hills Eastern raced out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Scott Howard in the ninth minute and Eric Fish, who assisted on the first goal, in the 19th minute.
Dowagiac's comeback began with a Tony Black goal just two minutes after Fish scored with an assist from Brian Edgerly.
The Chieftains (11-8-2) then tied the score with just 1:51 remaining in the first half when David Cardenas scored off an assist from Clay Hewitt.
Neither team scored in the second half, but it wasn't from a lack of chances.
Both keepers, Aaron Wilson from Dowagiac and Ross Peterson of Eastern, came up with big saves time and time again.
Dowagiac…2
Forest Hills Eastern…3 OT
Halftime
Dowagiac 2, Forest Hills 2
First half
F-Scott Howard 9th minute (assist Eric Fish)
F-Fish 19th minute
D-Tony Black 22nd minute (assist Brian Edgerly)
D-David Cardenas 38th minute (Clay Hewitt)
Overtime
F- Eric Parks 95th minute
Shots on goal
Forest Hills 29