The Bluffton boys soccer team scored four goals in the first seven minutes and cruised to a 7-0 victory over local rival Cory-Rawson in Div. III district semifinal play Wednesday evening, October 27, at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin.
Nolan Hoffman and Jude Spallinger scored three goals apiece to pace the blowout.
With the win, the top-seeded Pirates improved their record to 14-3-2 and advanced to the district finals Saturday, October 30 at 11 a.m. in Tiffin.
Bluffton will face fourth seed Riverdale, which upset second-seeded Van Buren 2-1 in overtime at Tiffin in the Wednesday nightcap.
The Pirates and Falcons (8-6-4) face off in a rematch of the last two district finals. Bluffton triumphed 1-0 in OT in 2019, but the Falcons returned the favor with a a 1-0 upset last season to end the unbeaten Pirate season.
The fifth-seeded Hornets ended their season 8-7-3 after the shutout defeat at the hands of Bluffton.
Sophomore Hoffman started the onslaught by scoring just 27 seconds into the fray.
Senior Spallinger tallied on an assist from Hoffman just 2:49 into the contest for a 2-0 lead.
Hoffman found the back of the net at 5:23 on a Bryan Zimmerman assist to extend the lead to three.
Hoffman authored his third goal just 58 seconds later on a pass from Ben Hartzler to advance the margin to 4-0.
Spallinger netted his second score at the 11:59 mark on an assist from Justin Good. The Pirate cushion stayed at 5-0 into halftime.
Spallinger scored unassisted 12:54 into the second half to extend the lead to 6-0.
Kaden Basil added the game's final goal at the 57:20 juncture.
Bluffton fired seven of its 19 shots on goal. C-R mustered just one shot against the Pirate defense.
Bluffton was ranked ninth in the latest Div. III state poll.
The Pirates won 3-2 at Riverdale October 2. Spallinger broke a 2-2 tie on a penalty kick goal with just six seconds remaining to provide the margin of victory.
The Pirate vs. Falcon winner Saturday advances to the regional semifinals at a site to be announced against the Toledo district champion.
