By By SCOTT NOVAK ./ Dowagiac Daily News
After back-to-back district championship seasons, the Dowagiac boys' varsity soccer team will be extremely young this year.
The Chieftains lost 10 seniors to graduation following the 2005 season.
Dowagiac returns six players, who hopefully can jell with the newcomers to make a run at a third consecutive district title.
The losses to graduation won't be the only change for the Chieftains this season. Dowagiac moves from the Big 16 Conference to the Wolverine Conference.
The Chieftains will open their season on Aug. 21 against visiting Lakeshore. Dowagiac's first Wolverine Conference match will be Sept. 6 at South Haven.
"After losing 10 seniors from last year's team, we are young," veteran Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. "We have only six returners from last year. We do have some strong upcoming varsity players that will need to prove themselves at the next level."
Returning for the Chieftains in 2006 are seniors Tony Black, Adam Hess and Andrew Cuthbert. Also back are juniors Clay Hewitt, Nate Long and Matt Joanis.
Moving up to the varsity will be Josh Deuel, Efrain Soto, Ben Soto, Art Springsteen, Jon Mitchell and Braxton Hunsberger.
"This will be an interesting season, being our first in the Wolverine Conference," Williams said. "This is a strong soccer conference and will prepare us well for district play."
Dowagiac has done quite well in the post season since joining the Big 16 Conference.
The Chieftains won the school's first two district championships, but were eliminated in the regionals on last-second goals both years.
Last year Dowagiac dropped a 1-0 decision to Forest Hills Eastern with 1.3 seconds remaining in the match.