Dowagiac’s Alvaro Scherer (15) heads the ball against Bangor Monday afternoon. The Chieftains defeated the Vikings 2-0. (The Daily News/Scott Novak)

By SCOTT NOVAK

 

Dowagiac Daily News

Dowagiac junior Hazen McMeeken scored a goal in each half to help lift the Chieftain soccer team to a 2-0 win over Bangor in the opening round of the Division 3 District Tournament on Monday afternoon.

Dowagiac played without one of its top scorers, Craig Zebell, who was hospitalized on Sunday. According to Chieftain coach Mike Williams, Zebell will be released today and should be able to play in the semifinals on Thursday.

McMeeken scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the 38th minute on a penalty kick after being taken down inside the box.

Dowagiac maintained that advantage throughout the remainder of the first half and well into the second half before McMeeken scored again, this time in the upper right-hand corner of the goal in the 65th minute.

The Chieftains dominated the play throughout, doubling up on Bangor in shots on goal 24-12.

Dowagiac keeper Jason Turner was credited with 10 saves. A pair of Viking keepers came up with 13 stops.

“They worked hard, but you could see we were missing a little bit of control in the center,” Williams said of playing without Zebell, who is a midfielder. “We were playing a team that was very aggressive with the kick and chase and we needed to slow that down. The people who were in there did it once in a while, but we switched centers four times. Usually we switch one of the centers and Craig is always in. But they did step up and they were working hard.

“Good effort there at the end holding off some good attacks. Good defense today. Best defense we have had in a while of controlling and containing, of staying goal-side and stepping to the ball. Defense was key today.”

Dowagiac will face Hartford, which defeated Buchanan in a shootout 8-7, on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

In Wednesday’s semifinal, Cassopolis will face Coloma in a match-up of Lakeland Conference foes.

The Rangers edged Berrien Springs 1-0 on Monday, while Coloma defeated Brandywine 3-2 in a shootout.

Bangor…0

Dowagiac…2

Halftime score

Dowagiac 1, Bangor 0

First half

D – Hazen McMeeken 38th minute (penalty kick)

Second half

D – McMeeken 65th minute

Shots on goal

Bangor 12

Dowagiac 24

Saves

Dowagiac 10 (Jason Turner)

Bangor 13