OKEMOS - The Okemos soccer team triumphed over Mason, 2-0, in the first round of the CAAC Gold Cup on Tuesday.

The Chiefs entered the competition seeded third in the eight-team bracket, while Mason was No. 6.

A corner kick from junior midfielder Alec Thornburg reached senior midfielder Owen Cannon, who put it in the back of the net and gave Okemos the early lead at the ninth minute of play.

As rivals, the Bulldogs and Chiefs' matchup is close, with both teams creating good opportunities.

Mason pressures throughout the first half, but Okemos is able to maintain the lead, 1-0.

Again in the ninth minute, but this time in the second half, senior midfielder Talon Christensen crosses the ball from the left into the center of the goal.

Senior forward Ben Meschke goes up with a header, making the ball curve just over the reach of Mason goalkeeper Sam Spitzley.

The goal in the 49th put the Chiefs up, 2-0.

The second half was a repeat of the first, with pressure on both sides, but Mason came out stronger, taking advantage of Okemos' missed passes.

With nine minutes left of play, Mason senior midfielder Lirim Shefkiu seemed to have swore at the referee and received a red card.

The play before the red card had Shefkiu carrying the ball toward the goal, but losing it to the Okemos defense.

No penalty was called, but he complained that Okemos senior midfielder Charlie Mahoney held him.

The game proceeded with a 10-man Bulldogs team, but Mason kept the same pressure on the Chiefs.

Okemos created a few scoring opportunities in the last few minutes of play, but couldn't hit the net again.

Closing the game with two goals, Okemos will head on to the next stage of the CAAC Gold Cup.

Earlier in the season, the Chiefs beat Mason, 3-1, at the Compete for a Cause event.

Okemos travels to Meridian Township rival, Haslett, for the cup's semifinal match at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

The Vikings came back from a one-goal deficit, scoring two goals within a five-minute window, to defeat Lansing Catholic, 2-1.

Haslett had previously lost to the Cougars in regular season play, 2-0.

The other two teams that advanced and will play each other are Grand Ledge, who defeated Jackson, 1-0, and East Lansing, who topped Williamston, 4-1.