By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University Beavers were powered by a big offensive performance from T.J. Kline (Mogodore/Lake Center) which led them to a 3-2 victory over the Mount St. Joseph Lions on Wednesday, Oct. 29. The Beavers are now 6-12 and 3-5 in HCAC play, while the Lions fell to 4-13-1 and 2-5-1 in the Heartland Conference.
Kline started the scoring midway through the first stanza as he gathered a pass from Adrian Ramirez (Archbold) that he put in the net to give the Beavers a 1-0 advantage in the 22nd minute, a lead which they would take into the halftime break.
Then just two minutes into the final 45, Kline scored his second of the game, this one on a cross from Grant Stutzman (Sugarcreek/Hiland) where Stutzman faked the goalie out and gave Kline the wide open net. Then in the 62nd minute, Stutzman scored a goal of his own on a lead pass from Jake Headings (Cincinnati McNicholas) in which he deposited it past the keeper for the 3-0 lead.
The Lions would respond with goals from Brycen Evans in the 67th minute and Cody Hacker in the 88th minute, but the comeback charge from MSJ fell just short.
Bluffton was able to outshoot MSJ 13-8 in the contest, including 8-4 on frame. Mount did win in the fouls and corners departments, 11-9 and 9-8, respectively. Kline paced the Bluffton offense with four in the contest. Bluffton keeper Jeff Yoder (Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian) recorded two saves in the victory.
The Beavers will wrap up their season in Terre Haute, Ind., when they take on the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, currently number two in the HCAC with a conference record of 5-1-1. The match is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
