By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton girls soccer team fell to top seed Liberty-Benton 8-1 in Div. III district final action Saturday afternoon at Steinmetz Field.
Lady Eagle Maya Rickle netted four goals to pace the victors, including three in the first half, as they raced to a commanding 6-0 intermission lead.
The Pirate girls finished the season 15-3-1 as the defeat brought an end to their 14-match victory streak, and a 15-match unbeaten string.
Second-seeded Bluffton had not lost since August 29 to Bath, and went 15-0-1 after an 0-2 start.
With the one-sided win, state-ranked power L-B (15-2-2) advanced to the regional semifinals at a site TBA vs. Kalida Tuesday evening, November 3.
Liberty-Benton's Olivia Bodie scored first in the 12th minute, followed by consecutive Rickle goals in the 18th and 22nd minutes for a 3-0 lead.
A moment later, Eagle Alexis Rickenbacher hit the back of the net twice within a single minute to blow the match open and extend the lead to 5-0.
Rickle then tallied again in the 25th minute to advance the advantage to 6-0 with 15 minutes still remaining before halftime.
Rickle picked up where she left off roughly three minutes into the second half by netting her fourth score for a 7-0 cushion.
Bluffton's Laykin Garmatter tallied the lone Lady Pirate goal in the 50th minute to cut the deficit to 7-1. Clara Matthews assisted on the score.
L-B's Emily Tomlinson netted the last goal in the 72rd minute to provide the final margin of victory.
Bluffton got off a dozen shots, five of which were on goal.
Thirteen of the 18 L-B shots were on target, with eight finding the net.
Bluffton keeper Julia Mehaffie was credited with five saves.
Eagle goalie Sophie Aschemeier made four stops.
L-B's only losses have come to Bath (2-1) and at Perrysburg (3-0). Bluffton lost to Bath and Ottawa-Glandorf, then after a win they tied Van Buren, all in their first four matches.
The Lady Pirates won the Northwest Conference title and reeled off 14 straight victories before the season-ending loss to L-B.
