Bluffton boys' soccer team wins NWC crown;
Bluffton girls' soccer team NWC runner-up
By Cort Reynolds
HARROD - The Bluffton boys' soccer team went on the road and won their fifth consecutive Northwest Conference championship with a 2-0 shutout win at Allen East Thursday evening.
The Pirates improved their record to 12-2-2 overall and 5-0 in the NWC with the first-place showdown win. AE fell to 6-7-1 and 4-1 in the NWC with the defeat, good for second place in the six-team league.
Bluffton has won all five NWC boys soccer crowns, and is a perfect 25-0-0 in league play since 2015.
The match was scoreless in the first half.
Pirate Jonathan Schriner broke the tie less than two minutes into the second half. Jayden Mays then netted an insurance goal in the 64th minute.
The Pirates got 15 shots off, eight of which were on goal. The Bluffton defense limited the Mustangs to just three shots, two of which were on target.
Nic Essinger made two saves in goal for the Pirates to preserve the shutout. Meanwhile the Mustang keeper was credited with six saves.
Top-seeded Bluffton hosts the Otsego/Woodmore winner in second round sectional action Saturday, Oct. 19.
Lady Pirates whip Wildcats
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton girls soccer team skunked winless Delphos Jefferson 11-0 in the Northwest Conference and regular season finale Thursday evening.
The Lady Pirates improved to 9-6-1 and 5-1 in the NWC with the victory. DJ fell to 0-15 and 0-6 in the NWC with the defeat. Bluffton girls' finished runner-up in the NWC.
Four Pirates netted two goals apiece as Bluffton led 3-0 at halftime before pouring it on with eight second-half goals.
Reagan Mittendorf scored in the 10th and 19th minutes to put the hosts ahead early on, 2-0.
Kayla White tallied in the 27th minute to make it 3-0, then later scored in the 54th minute. Lauren Rhodes found the back of the net in the 50th and 73rd minutes, and Brinkley Garmatter scored back-to-back goals in the 70th and 71st minutes.
Sami Scoles (66'), Allison Diller (76') and Becca Hoff (77') tallied the other three goals to complete the blowout.
Bluffton put 33 of its whopping 47 shots on goal. They dominated Delphos Jeff so completely that the Wildcats did not get a single shot off. DJ recorded 19 saves.
Bluffton next plays Mansfield St. Peter's in second round sectional play Thursday, October 17.
