For a trio of Niles seniors, winning the VanDenBerg Invitational for the seventh straight year was special.

For Alex Jasper, Mitchel Park and Ben Florkowski it was a chance to carry on a tradition of past seniors.

The Vikings had little resistance as it rolled to the title.

Niles blanked both Buchanan and Cassopolis 8-0 and  has now outscored its competition 33-1 in the past two tournaments.

“It feels pretty great,” Jasper said. “I know other seniors have won it four years in a row and I know much it meant to them.”

“This means I can end my senior year having won the VanDenBerg four years in a row,” Park said.

Florkowski agreed with Jasper.

“Like he said, we can carry on that tradition,” he said. “We are keeping the trophy at home.”

Niles spread the wealth around on Saturday as nine different players scored goals and five different Vikings finished with assists.

It was a great way to start the season said Florkowski.

“It gives us a boost to go into the season with some wins and it helps develop our team chemistry.”

The championship was also a way to begin the tenure of new Niles coach Ryan Haines.

“An excellent start to the season,” he said. “We wanted to establish a high level of play in this tournament, which is something that we will continue to do in every game we play this year.”

Florkowski had a hat trick against the Bucks in the semifinals, while Adam Shepherd, Cooper Hullinger, Raymundo Aguirre, Bryant Echeverria and Jose Magana also scored.

Magana, Hullinger, Dalex Nzabakira and Kendall Whitelow all had assists.

Against the Rangers, Jasper had a pair of goals with Magana, Conor McKieran, Echeverria, Hullinger and Eric Fritz also finding the back of the net.

Viking goalkeepers Trey Scott and Drew Gourley only had to make one save  in the two matches.

Cassopolis reached the finals with a 10-2 win over Brandywine.

Kiambu Gary had five goals and an assist, while four other Rangers scored. Brandywine also had an own-goal.

Buchanan edged Brandywine 2-1 in the consolation match.

 

VANDENBERG INVITATIONAL

At Niles

Semifinals

Niles 8, Buchanan 0

Halftime score

Niles 6, Buchanan 0

 

First half

N – Ben Florkowski (Jose Magana assist) 4th minute.

N – Florkowski 11th minute.

N – Florkowski 20th minute.

N – Adam Shepherd (Cooper Hullinger assist) 24th minute.

N – Hullinger 25th minute.

N – Raymundo Aguirre 28th minute.

 

Second half

N – Bryant Echeverria (Dalex Nzabakira assist) 34th minute.

N – Magana (Kendall Whitelow assist) 45th minute.

 

Saves

Niles 0 (Trey Scott, Drew Gourley).

 

Championship

Niles 8, Cassopolis 0

Halftime score

Niles 6, Cassopolis 0

 

First half

N – Magana (Florkowski assist) 4th minute.

N – Florkowski 7th minute.

N – Conor McKiernan (Florkowski assist) 8th minute.

N – Alex Jasper (Magana assist) 9th minute.

N – Jasper (Florkowski assist) 13th minute.

N – Echeverria 15th minute.

 

Second half

N – Hullinger (Echeverria assist) 50th minute.

N – Eric Fritz 51st minute.

 

Saves

Niles 1 (Trey Scott, Drew Gourley).