Make that eight titles in a row.

For the 14th time in the last 16 years, and for the eighth consecutive tournament, the Niles boys’ varsity soccer team can call itself champions of the VandenBerg Invitational.

The Vikings won their eighth consecutive championship with a 3-0 win over Cassopolis in the finals Saturday.

Niles blanked Buchanan 8-0 in the semifinals, while Cassopolis defeated Brandywine 4-1 in the other semifinal.

“It means a lot (to win for the eighth consecutive year),” said Niles coach Ryan Haines. “It’s kind of become a tradition for these guys. Jose Magana has been a four-year varsity player, so he has won the VandenBerg tournament every year of high school. It’s just good for the program overall.”

An early goal from Adam Shepherd gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead that they would take to the intermission.

A couple of second-half goals from junior Cooper Hullinger and a steady ball control offense carried the Vikings to the final outcome.

“I think the guy that is going to stand out for us the most this year is going to be Brian Echeverria,” Haines said. “He’s the smallest guy on the team and he won’t get all the goals or all of the assists, but soccer smarts. He is all there. He is going to give us 80 minutes all the time, and he’s a heck of a player.”

The Rangers struggled to get the ball across midfield most of the game, and when they did they could not manage shots on goal, but they did not give up,and they battled until the end.

“I knew Cassopolis was going to be tough,” Haines said. “They have five or six players that have been with (Coach) Austin Francis and that program for the last three or fours years and they are going to continue getting better.”

As for the Vikings, the team is young and continues to develop, but coach Haines is optimistic of the season and the future of the program.

“We had to fill eight starting spots this year, but we are young and we are going to build on our JV program and continue to get better,” he said.

 

VANDENBERG INVITATONAL

At Niles

Championship match

NILES 3, CASSOPOLIS 0

Halftime score

Niles 1, Cassopolis 0

 

First half

N – Adam Shepherd ninth minute (Bryant Echeverria assist).

 

Second half

N – Cooper Hullinger 42nd minute (Kevin Magana assist).

N – Hullinger 50th minute (Cade Vota assist).

 

Shots on goal

Niles 14

Cassopolis 4

 

Saves

Niles 4 (Drew Gourley)

Cassopolis 11 (Jason Sopaseuth

 

Semifinals

NILES 8, BUCHANAN 0

Halftime score

Niles 6, Buchanan 0

 

First half

N – Conor McKiernan fifth minute (Adam Shepherd assist).

N – Cooper Hullinger sixth minute (Shepherd assist).

N – McKiernan 15th minute (Jose Magana assist).

N – Buchanan Own Goal 15th minute.

N – Hullinger 17th minute (Bryant Echeverria assist).

N – Raymundo Aguirre 19th minute.

N – Cade Vota 30th minute (J.J. Woods assist).

 

Second half

N – Jared Hainey 33rd minute.

 

Shots on goal

Niles 30

Buchanan 0

Saves

Niles 0 (Drew Gourley)

Varsity records: Cassopolis 2-1, Niles 2-0

 

 

VANDENBERG INVITATONAL

At Niles

Championship match

NILES 3, CASSOPOLIS 0

Halftime score

Niles 1, Cassopolis 0

 

First half

N – Adam Shepherd ninth minute (Bryant Echeverria assist).

 

Second half

N – Cooper Hullinger 42nd minute (Kevin Magana assist).

N – Hullinger 50th minute (Cade Vota assist).

 

Shots on goal

Niles 14

Cassopolis 4

 

Saves

Niles 4 (Drew Gourley)

Cassopolis 11 (Jason Sopaseuth

 

Semifinals

NILES 8, BUCHANAN 0

Halftime score

Niles 6, Buchanan 0

 

First half

N – Conor McKiernan fifth minute (Adam Shepherd assist).

N – Cooper Hullinger sixth minute (Shepherd assist).

N – McKiernan 15th minute (Jose Magana assist).

N – Buchanan Own Goal 15th minute.

N – Hullinger 17th minute (Bryant Echeverria assist).

N – Raymundo Aguirre 19th minute.

N – Cade Vota 30th minute (J.J. Woods assist).

 

Second half

N – Jared Hainey 33rd minute.

 

Shots on goal

Niles 30

Buchanan 0

Saves

Niles 0 (Drew Gourley)

Varsity records: Cassopolis 2-1, Niles 2-0