It is fortunate for the Dowagiac soccer team that a match is 80 minutes long instead of 66.

The Chieftains scored all three of their goals in the last 14:04 of the game for the 3-2 victory over visiting Comstock Monday.

Dowagiac trailed the Colts at halftime 1-0 after Zoe McBride connected from close range at 26:59 of the first half.

The Colts’ Amanda Clapper had a few close opportunities in the first half that just missed going in the goal, but she managed to get one through in the second half less than 15 minutes in to give Comstock the 2-0 lead.

“In the first half we got caught playing kickball,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “When we get caught playing kickball, we get out of whack and give up those kinds of goals.”

The Chieftains had several opportunities to score, but could not manage to find the back of the net for nearly 66 minutes. A couple of their best chances came off the foot of Lauren Krueger. Just four minutes into the second half, Krueger lofted one toward the goal from the right wing that just missed being headed in by teammate Kelsie Primley. Her second opportunity came about eight minutes later as she lofted one from the top of the box that was tipped just over the crossbar by Comstock goalie, Haylee Gerard keeping Dowagiac off the scoreboard.

After Clapper gave the Colts the 2-0 lead, the Chieftains felt the urgency to attack and get on the board and Primley got things going their way as she connected on a nice left-footed shot from about 10 yards out cutting the lead in half 2-1 with 14:04 remaining.

Two minutes later, Alejandro Cano tied the game as she took an assist from Breanna Williams and knocked it past Gerard, tying the game at 2-2 with 12:02 remaining.

Nearly five minutes later, Williams got a chance of her own to be the hero as she blasted a shot on goal that Gerard managed to get a hand on and directed just wide of the goal, leaving the game tied at two goals each.

However, moments later, Williams got loose behind the defense and raced towards the Colts’ zone. After a couple of great moves to shake the defender, Williams ran the ball in closer before calmly drilling the shot into the back of the net giving the Chieftains the 3-2 lead and ultimately the victory.

“We can only play one half of soccer,” Comstock coach Shannon Howard said. “This is what happens in most of our games. We play one half well, but can’t seem to finish the game.”

“If we play soccer and move the ball like we did late in the game, we will be fine. We just need to play controlled soccer,” Williams said.

Dowagiac will host Plainwell on Wednesday.

Comstock…2

Dowagiac…3

Halftime score

Comstock 1, Dowagiac 0

First half

C – Zoe McBride

Second half

C – Amanda Clapper

D – Kelsey Primley

D – Alejandro Cano

D – Breanna Williams