CASSOPOLIS — The Cassopolis soccer team will open up its 2019 season at the VanDenBerg Invitational in Niles on Saturday.

The Rangers, who are coming off a 12-7-2 season, will face host Brandywine in the opening round at 10 a.m. Niles will host Buchanan in the first round also at 10 a.m.

The winners will advance to the noon championship game at Niles High School. The consolation match will be played at Brandywine High School at noon.

The Vikings, who won their ninth consecutive VanDenBerg championship, defeated Cassopolis 6-1 in the semifinals. The Rangers rebounded to beat Buchanan 8-0 in the consolation match.

“We are excited to get our season kicked off with the VanDenBerg Tournament as has been tradition,” said Cassopolis coach Austin Francis. “Based on the improvements I saw from Brandywine last season, I imagine we will have a good, tough first game. Our six seniors are intent on being the first Cassopolis team to take home this trophy.”

Francis is looking forward to seeing how a new coach has affected the Vikings.

“It will be interesting to see if Niles’ style of play has changed if we get the opportunity to face them in the final under the leadership of Abel [Fonseca], their new coach,” he said. “I would also love to see Buchanan give Niles a competitive game and beat them or at least wear them down a bit before we face them.”