DOWAGIAC — One would think that being 12-1 and 2-0 in the Wolverine Conference would make a coach happy.

Not Dowagiac’s Mike Williams.

Williams is pleased with the start his team has gotten off to, but he knows that the toughest opponents on their schedule are still lurking on the Chieftains’ Wolverine Conference schedule.

But for now, Williams and Dowagiac will enjoy their success and relish their 7-0 victory over visiting Three Rivers Monday night.

As usual, the Chieftains scored at will, and they did it in a variety of ways with a variety of players.

Against the Wildcats, five different players scored, with Cristian Wilson and Isaac Saaverda both picking up a pair of goals.

Dowagiac has now scored 67 goals on the season.

But goals are just one part of the equation when it comes to what Williams wants to get accomplished before the Chieftains try to defend their back-to-back Division 3 district championships at the end of the season.

He knows there are still a few things his squad needs to work on.

“We have to continue to improve on 50/50 balls, transitions and communication,” he said. “We have a lot of tough competition over the next two weeks. We have to step up the intensity and speed of the game to be able to come out with wins. Our conference is good at soccer.”

The competition Williams is speaking of is the likes of Allegan, Edwardsburg, Plainwell and Sturgis, which Dowagiac played beginning tonight and concluding Sept. 23. Just two of those matches, Allegan and Sturgis — are at home.

The Chieftains will wrap up conference play against Otsego, South Haven and Paw Paw.

While current statistics are still being updated, Williams said that Wilson and Cole Weller, who also had a goal against Three Rivers, are the current team leaders.

Also scoring Monday night were Ben McCrory and Jose Carillo.