DOWAGIAC — Two teams who are still trying to find all the right pieces squared off in a Wolverine Conference soccer match Monday night.

Visiting Edwardsburg got the better of Dowagiac as the Eddies scored a 3-0 victory over the Chieftains.

Edwardsburg led 2-0 at halftime on goals by Jake Stewart and Aaron Toms.

The Eddies cemented the win with a goal by Silas Krueger in the final 40 minutes.

Edwardsburg coach Sean Jesse knows that his team is better than their 5-6-2 overall record, but he is pleased with the direction the Eddies are heading.

“We have battled some absences,” he said. “We have battled some injuries. So, it is about finding the right chemistry. We are starting to move the ball a lot better. We have always had this talent. 

I have thought this team is every bit as talented as last year, it is just finding a way to have them connect for 80 minutes.”

Jesse said his team played about 65 minutes of good soccer against the Chieftains.

“It is getting better,” he said. “We are a tough team, but we do not always show up.”

Dowagiac coach Mike Williams said that the Eddies were bigger and stronger, as well as faster in some areas, which allowed them to take advantage of some defensive lapses.

“They were beating us to ball and they finished all on the outsides or the backsides,” he said. “We left the backside open three times and that is how they scored. They took advantage of those opportunities. That is why we lost. It was not because of a lack of effort by any means.”

The Chieftains had some quality scoring chances, but could not put the ball away.

“Their back line did a good job of hanging onto Cristian (Wilson) and everybody else,” Williams said. “We did not take advantage of our opportunities. We had some opportunities, but they use their big bodies really well to keep us capitalizing on them.”

Dowagiac is right back to work today as it travels to Plainwell for another Wolverine Conference match.

Edwardsburg hosted South Haven in a league match on Wednesday.

The Chieftains and Eddies played to a 3-3 draw in JV soccer Monday afternoon.

Brodie Sallee scored all three Edwardsburg goals.

Dowagiac got goals from Cole Weller, Noah Green and Chris Mosier.