By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC – The three-match winning streak to open the 2008 season came to a halt on Monday afternoon for the Dowagiac varsity soccer team.
Visiting Lakeshore scored three first half goals en route to a 4-0 non-conference victory over the Chieftains.
The Lancers' Hunter Hendley had three of those goals.
Hendley opened the scoring and closed the scoring in the first half with goals in the first and 36th minutes.
Hendley also scored the final goal of the match and the only goal of the second half.
Lakeshore wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Hendley's first goal came just 21 ticks into the match.
After giving up a second goal in the 10th minute to Jason Lehmann, Dowagiac (3-1) seemed to settle down and played evenly with the Lancers for the remainder of the match.
"I was telling the boys, they jumped right out at the beginning, something like 20 seconds and scored on us, which was unfortunate," Dowagiac coach Craig Black said. "I told them to play a little conservative for the first few minutes, which we didn't and we got beat. But then, after the first 15 minutes we settled things down and played real well."
Hendley's second goal of the match came after Dowagiac keeper Jacob Deuel was unable to maintain possession of the ball.
Trailing 3-0 heading into the final 40 minutes, the Chieftains continued to step it up and put some real pressure on the Lancers.
Dowagiac, much like it did in the first half, have several outstanding scoring chances but just could not capitalize.
"The first half we had some great scoring opportunities," Black said. "I know of at least two in the first half I thought were goals, at least I was hoping they were. In the second half we passed the ball around and distributed it much better."
With a team like this you can't put the ball over the top and think you are going to beat them. You have to pass the ball to the feet and move it up the field."
Lakeshore only head a 16-14 advantage in shots on goal against the Chieftains.
Deuel played well again in goal for Dowagiac and had 10 saves. Lakeshore's Kyle Mitowski had 11 saves.
Lakeshore…4
Dowagiac…0
Halftime Score
Lakeshore 3, Dowagiac 0
First Half
L – Hunter Hendley 1st minute
L – Jason Lehmann 10th minute
L – Hendley 36th minute
Second Half
L – Hendley 80th minute
Shots on Goal
Lakeshore -16
Dowagiac – 14
Saves
Lakeshore – 11 (Kyle Mitowski)
Dowagiac – 10 (Jacob Deuel)