A preview of the Division 3 District Soccer Tournament opener did not go the way of Dowagiac Wednesday night.

The Chieftains, who are hosting the district tournament, dropped a 6-3 Wolverine Conference decision to Paw Paw.

The Redskins will face the host Chieftains Monday at 5 p.m. in the district opener.

The winner advances to face either Hopkins or Buchanan in the semifinals Wednesday.

In other first round games, Fennville will host Coloma and Berrien Springs will host South Haven.

The semifinals match sites will be determined by who wins in the first round.

The championship match will be played at Dowagiac at 11 a.m. Oct. 22.

Paw Paw’s Aiden Miller scored fourth of the six Paw Paw goals and will be the focus of Dowagiac’s preparation for its district encounter.

“As you can tell by their goals we had trouble stopping Miller,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “He is very fast and tough to hang on to. You cannot give him any space or you will lose him. After we got settled in we were able to contain despite the monsoon. Monday we are going to have to play tough defense for 80 minutes.”

Miller scored the first two goals of the match in the eighth and 10th minutes.

Dowagiac cut the lead to 2-01 on a goal in the 11th minute by Mariano Brito.

Lucas Atkinson gave the Redskins a 3-1 advantage at halftime with his goal in the 17th minute.

Antonio Brito opened the second half scoring as he found the back of the net in the 51st minute. Alec Saylor followed that up with a goal to complete the scoring for the Chieftains.

But a trio of goals over a seven-minute stretch, including a pair by Miller, sealed the deal.

Noah Gledhill had the other goal for Paw Paw.

 

PAW PAW 6, DOWAGIAC 3

At Paw Paw

Halftime score

Paw Paw 3, Dowagiac 1

First half

P – Aiden Miller 8th minute.

P – Miller 10th minute.

D – Mariano Brito 11th minute.

P – Lucas Atkinson 17th minute.

 

Second half

D – Antonio Brito 51st minute.

D – Alec Saylor 51st minute.

P – Noah Gledhill 69th minute.

P – Miller 70th minute.

P – Miller 76th minute.

 

Shots on goal

Dowagiac 11

Paw Paw 15

Varsity record: Dowagiac 8-9, 3-6 Wolverine.