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By Cort Reynolds
MIDDLE POINT - The visiting Bluffton boys soccer team swamped Lincolnview 7-1 Monday night in Northwest Conference play to clinch at least a tie for the league crown.
Bluffton improved to 12-0-1 and 4-0 in the NWC with the victory. The Lancers dropped to 2-7-4 and 1-4 in the NWC with the loss.
The Pirates won their 29th straight NWC match in a row and are a closing in on their sixth straight outright conference title.
Pirate senior Jonathan Schriner netted four goals and teammate Kaden Basil tallied the other three scores to pace the blowout win.
Basil started the scoring in the ninth minute, with Schriner finding the back of the net in the 10th and 12th minutes as Bluffton built a 3-0 lead at halftime.
Schriner scored again three minutes into half two, while Basil tallied in the 48th minute. Schriner made it 6-0 with a goal in the 60th minute.
Lincolnview finally scored on a Pirate own goal in the 67th minute. Basil provided the final margin of victory in the last minute of play by netting his third goal.
Thad Mittendorf, Jude Spallinger and Simon Derstine each doled out two assists for Bluffton.
Bluffton fired 16 of its 24 shots on goal. The Lancers only got off one shot, which was saved by keeper Nic Essinger. Lincolnview goalie Fletcher Collins was credited with nine stops.
Bluffton faces a tough test at WBL foe Shawnee (10-2) Saturday, October 10 in a non-league match.
Pettisville 5-1
Elida 8-2
Spencerville 10-0
Plain City Jonathan Alder 6-1
Perrysburg 2-2
Van Buren 5-2
Kenton 2-0
Allen East 4-0
Ashland 3-1
Ottawa Hills 2-0
Ada 7-0
Riverdale 4-2
At Lincolnview 7-1
At Shawnee Oct. 10
At Kalida Oct. 15
