Stats: http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/womenssoccer/2011/11-05-ws.htm
The Bluffton University women's soccer team held Hanover at bay for over 80 minutes, but a Panther score with less than nine minutes in regulation gave the home team a 1-0 victory in the 2011 Heartland Conference championship match. The Beavers finished their record-setting season with an 11-5-2 mark, while Hanover improved to 15-2-2.
Much like a heavyweight boxing match, Bluffton and Hanover limited their early offense to a few jabs of which none found the intented target. The Panthers posted a 6-1 advantage in shots, but the score remained deadlocked after 45 minutes of action.
The first 35 minutes of the second half was more of the same as neither team was able to find the back of the net until Chloe Hutchinson connected with Erin Hancock for the only goal of the match at the 81:31 mark. Bluffton worked to push the contest into extra time, but when the final horn sounded Hanover secured a berth in the upcoming NCAA regionals thanks to the 1-0 victory.
Hanover finished the match with a 21-5 advantage in total shots, including 10-4 on frame. The Panthers forced all six corner kicks in the match, while the visitors committed two more fouls (8-6).
Jessica Ramirez (Archbold) placed two shots on target to lead the Bluffton strikers. Fellow sophomore Maggie Armstrong (Vevay, Ind./Switzerland Cty.) was outstanding in the net, giving the Beavers a chance at their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance while racking up nine saves against a Hanover squad that handled Bluffton 4-1 just a week ago.
