By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School boys soccer team shut out visiting Spencerville 4-0 in their Northwest Conference opener on Thursday, August 29, at Steinmetz Field.
Levi Antrim and Jackson Brauen each scored two goals to pace the Pirates to their first victory.
Bluffton’s Ethan Blount passed out a pair of assists. Landon Sehlhorst added one assist.
The six-time defending league champion Pirates improved to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the win.
The Bearcats fell to 1-2-1 overall and 1-1 in the NWC after the league loss.
Brauen scored the first goal in the 11th minute off a Blount pass. Antrim made it 2-0 with a score a minute before halftime on a feed from Sehlhorst.
Antrim stretched the margin to 3-0 on his second goal in the 61st minute with an assist from Blount. Brauen tallied the final goal on a penalty kick in the 67th minute.
Bluffton put 13 of its 34 shots on goal.
The Bearcats managed just two shots, one of which was saved by Alek Davis. The Spencerville keeper made nine saves.
The Pirates are slated to play a makeup match at Tree of Life Christian School on Saturday in Columbus.
Bluffton hosts Van Buren (3-0) on Tuesday, September 3. The Pirates host Ottoville (4-1) on September 5.
