By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – Eight first half goals in two matches led the Dowagiac varsity soccer team to a victory in its own invitational tournament on Saturday.
The Chieftains defeated Brandywine 3-1 in the opening game of the tournament and then defeated Marcellus in the third game, 7-1.
Marcellus defeated Brandywine in a shootout in the second game of the tournament, 2-1.
Dowagiac scored all three of its goals against Brandywine in the opening half.
Efrain Soto gave the Chieftains a 1-0 lead in the third minute before Juan Meza made it 2-0 in the 10th minute.
Dowagiac completed its scoring in the 15th minute as Ben Soto score the team's third unassisted goal.
In the second half, Brandywine averted the shutout with a goal in the 38th minute by Greg Beaver with an assist from Mikel Lindzy.
Dowagiac held a 32-3 advantage in shots on goal against the Bobcats.
"We fell behind Dowagiac early 3-0 before we decided to pick up the intensity," Brandywine coach Jim McNamara said. "We played a very good second half. We continued to pressure them, but just couldn't punch another one in. I was very happy with our creativity on offense. We are getting much better looks at the goal than we did earlier in the year. Now we need to do a better job of putting the ball in the net."
The Chieftains scored five first half goals in gaining a measure of revenge against the Wildcats in the title game.
Marcellus upset Dowagiac in last year's tournament.
Josh Deuel had a hat trick in the opening half to lead the Chieftains to the victory.
Deuel's goals came in the fifth, 23rd and 28th minutes. Americo Martinez assisted on the first goal, while Jason Hurrle, who scored in the 20th minute, assisted on the third goal.
Efrain Soto, who scored in the seventh minute, assisted on the Hurrle goal.
Matt Collins kicked off the second half with a goal in the 40th minute.
Marcellus averted the shutout with a goal by Tim Fair in the 47th minute.
Nate Long completed the scoring for the Chieftains with a goal in the 56th minute.
Dowagiac out shot the Wildcats 28-3.
"We were able to finish today and that felt good," Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. "The younger players did a nice job filling in four our starting forwards (Clay Hewitt and Jon Mitchell) who have been out all week due to injury."
Dowagiac will get back to Wolverine Conference play on Wednesday as it travels to Three Rivers for a 6:45 p.m. match.
Marcellus…2
Brandywine…1
Jake Harris scored the lone goal for the Bobcats against Marcellus off an assist by Beavers.
"In the second game against Marcellus we completely dominated and their goalie turned aside many good opportunities," McNamara said. "After playing great defense we had a breakdown that led to an own goal. We start a freshmen back line and they are doing an outstanding job. They get better every game and are starting to understand the intensity they have to play with to compete against players three and four years older."
Brandywine returns to action today at Berrien Springs in a Lakeland Conference match.
Play is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.