GRAND RAPIDS — Back-to-back goals by Johnny Ruiz in the opening 10 minutes of the Division 3 MHSAA Regional Soccer Tournament semifinals was all the scoring Dowagiac would need in its 2-1 victory over Hopkins at Grand Rapids Catholic Central Tuesday night.

Despite the wet, cold and windy conditions, Ruiz scored in the seventh and eighth minutes to send the Chieftains to their first regional championship came in school history against Grand Rapids South Christian Thursday night.

“They played hard,” Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said. “We deserve to go (to the regional final). We are excited.”

Williams said that he honestly felt that his team would score more after moving the ball so effectively in the early stages of the match.

“If we just continued to feed and attack we would have been fine,” he said. “We were hurting in the center today. You could tell we were slow in the center. In the finals we will need to make some adjustments. I already know what adjustments to make. I was going to make them anyway.”

The No. 4-ranked Sailors defeated No. 1-ranked Hudsonville Unity Christian 2-1 in the second semifinal Tuesday.

Ruiz scored his first goal off an assist by Alec Saylor, while his second goal just seconds later, was assisted by Cristian Wilson.

Hopkins cut the Dowagiac lead to 2-1 in the 22nd minute on an unassisted goal by Davi Soares.

Weather and a slick prescription turf field hindered play throughout the contest as well as strong defensive efforts by both teams.

“You go to reach, thinking it is there and it is past you,” Williams said about playing on an artificial surface. “It is just quick.”

Both teams had quality scoring chances late in the first half and again in the second half, but could not convert.

“Brad Lowery was killing us in the center all by himself,” Williams said. “He was just outworking us in the center. He was super quick. So when I dropped Gage (Williams) back and put Cristian in the center, which that is the change we are making in the finals because I know I need Gage in the back to clear up for touches and clears.”

With the time dwindling down in the second half, Hopkins made one last run tying the match.

The Vikings had a corner kick in the final 30 seconds, but could not put the ball in the net to force overtime.

South Christian and Unity Christian played a scoreless first half.

The Sailors got goals from Austin Jager and Daniel Sculley, who scored the winning goal with just three minutes remaining in regulation.

South Christian goalkeeper Jake Tanis and the Sailors’ defense then protected the slim one-goal lead to advance to the championship match.

Of note:

Dowagiac assistant coach Joey Pasternak was also a member of the 2010 district championship team.