By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The regular season of the Blossomland Soccer league concluded on Tuesday with Whirlpool United defeating Dura Mold FC 2-1 at Rockey Weed Field in Stevensville.
Mike Dalton and Richard Love scored for Whirlpool, which winds up the fourth seed in the upcoming Blossomland Cup Tournament.
Whirlpool United finished the year at 7-3-1.
Dura Mold (5-5-1) got its goal from Josh Phillips. Dura Mold will be the sixth seed in the tournament, which begins on Sunday.
Dura Mold will face the No. 3 seed, Diamonds United, at 1 p.m. at Andrews Academy in Berrien Springs.
The St. Joe Kickers, who are the No. 2 seed, will host St. Stephens Villains (No. 7 seed) at 2 p.m. at the Kickers Club in Arden.
Whirlpool United will take on the No. 5 seed, P&R FC, at 4 p.m. in Stevensville at Rockey Weed Field.
The first round will conclude with top seeded Real Dowagiac hosting Niles R.A.P. at Southwestern Michigan College.
A start time of 6 p.m. is tentative according to league officials.
Real Dowagiac is the regular season league champion for the second straight season, while the Kickers wind up second for the second consecutive year.
Real Dowagiac never reached the Blossomland Cup finals in 2006 as it was upset in the semifinals.
The Kickers defeated Whirlpool United 2-1 in the title match. The previous year (2005), the Kickers were upset after winning the regular season championship and Diamonds United defeated Whirlpool United to claim the tournament title.
The Kickers captured the very first Blossomland Cup with a 1-0 win over P&R FC.
Real Dowagiac's Mauricio Mancera is the Golden Boot winner as he led the league scoring with 21 goals. Teammate Alejandro Hernandez, last year's winner, finished second with 17 goals – one more than he scored during the regular season in 2006.
Rob Grashorn of the Villains and Clay Hewitt of the Dowagiac Dawgs tied for third in scoring with 14 goals.