NILES — Host Niles blanked crosstown rival Brandywine 2-0 to win the VanDenBerg Invitational championship Saturday.

The Vikings edged defending champion Buchanan 2-1 in the semifinals, to reach the title game for the first time in three years.

Brandywine advanced to the championship match by winning a shootout with Cassopolis in the other semifinals.

In the championship match, Niles scored a goal in each half to win the championship.

Gracie Florkowski scored the first-half goal for the Vikings off an assist by Marissa Kerr.

The second-half score came from Dayleigh Miller.

Niles finished with 27 shots on goal and had six corner kicks.

Avyion James finished with two saves.

“The Lady Vikings played a good game pressing and winning the ball,” said first-year Niles coach Abel Fonseca. “We had a lot of opportunities at goals, while only giving up two shots on our goal from the defense working together.”

In the semifinal win over Buchanan, Florkowski scored on a penalty kick, and a Buchanan own goal.

Buchanan scored a late goal to avert the shutout.

“The girls played a good game, creating tons of opportunities to score,” Fonseca said. “The defense played one of their best games.”

James finished with seven saves.

Niles will take a four-game winning streak into the SMAC Tournament, which begins Wednesday.