Niles’ Cicone Palmore (7) battles with a St. Joseph player Monday night in the Division 2 District Soccer Tournament. The Vikings were blanked by the Bears 3-0 and eliminated from the post season. (Daily Star photo/AMELIO RODRIGUEZ)

By AMELIO RODRIGUEZ

 

Niles Daily Star

The Niles varsity soccer team fell to visiting St. Joseph Monday night in the Division 2 District Tournament’s opening round, 3-0.

The Bears scored the first goal just over six minutes in as Kevin Chaddock found the back of the goal on a breakaway, making the score 1-0.

Niles hung with the Bears for the rest of the half as goalkeeper Ryan Casey made some great saves to keep the Vikings in the game.

St. Joe led 1-0 at the break.

The first 20 minutes of the second half continued on the same way the last 30-plus minutes of the first half had, as neither team could find the net. That is until Nicholas Kolettis connected on a header that blew by Casey and into the net making the score 2-0 in favor of the Bears.

Still in shock from allowing the second goal, the Niles defense allowed Chaddock to get behind them just a minute later and he was able to score his second goal of the game, and St. Joe’s final goal making the score 3-0 with 19 minutes to play.

Niles was unable to regroup, and their offense failed at finding the goal.

St. Joe will advance to the second round of the playoffs.

St. Joseph…3

Niles…0

Halftime score

St. Joseph 1, Niles 0

First half

SJ – Kevin Chaddock

Second half

SJ – Nicholas Kolettis

SJ – Chaddock