NILES — Host Niles successfully defended its VanDenBerg Invitational championship, but gained momentum for the upcoming Division 2 state soccer district at the same time.

The Vikings defeated Buchanan 5-1 in the semifinals before knocking off Cassopolis 4-2 in the championship match.

The Rangers reached the title game with a 5-1 win over host Brandywine.

The Bobcats defeated the Bucks 4-2 in the consolation match.

It was the perfect way to wrap up a regular season that has not always gone as planned for the Vikings.

“This was good for us,” said Niles coach Abel Fonseca. “The girls need to come in and work hard for two games on one day in our first hot weather. They got tested. For us to come out with a couple of wins was good for us confidence-wise heading into the districts.”

Niles will play one more home match this season as it hosts Edwardsburg in the opening round of the Division 2 district on Thursday.

It will be a re-match of their April 9 contest in which the Eddies won 5-3.

It was a match that Fonseca and his team feel it let get away from them.

“We have got to work together and stick to the game plan,” he said. “We have been training hard all season and are ready for this. It is a rematch and the girls feel like they had one and let it get away.”

In the finals against Cassopolis, the Rangers jumped out to the 1-0 lead on a Katelyn Waldschmidt goal.

Willow Brawley scored the first of her three goals to even match at 1-1 in the 17th minute.

Despite a lack of subs, Cassopolis kept putting the pressure on the Vikings in the first half.

Angel Gary scored in the 25th minute to make it 2-1 in favor of the Rangers only to have Brawley even the match once again before halftime.

Haven just one substitution seemed to wear on the Rangers as temperatures soared into the mid-80s for the first time this spring.

Grace Florkowski scored what would be the winning goal midway through the second half and Brawley completed her hat trick to complete the scoring.

“Winning this tournament is everything to us,” Brawley said. “This is the one tournament we want to win every year and look forward to all season.”

Niles seemed to focus on the middle of the field.

“I felt we could exploit that area and open up the offense for us,” Fonseca said. “We moved some players around and were able to settle down. If you can control the middle of the field you can dominate the game.”

Brawley agreed with her coach.

“During the first half, it was way too hot to run all over the field,” she said. “So, our strategy was short, simple passes and that would lead us to the goal by playing the middle.”

Cassopolis will face Bridgman in the opening round of the Division 4 district tournament at New Buffalo Thursday.

Play is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.