Here’s the Bluffton University sports round up of recent games.
Women’s soccer
The Bluffton University women's soccer team headed south to Transylvania University on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. The Beavers were able to limit the Pioneer offense to just two goals while picking up two of their own for a 2-2 tie in double overtime. It was a historic result for a Bluffton women's soccer team that had lost all 18 of the previous meetings between the conference rivals. Bluffton moved to 5-10-1 (2-4-1 HCAC) overall, while Transylvania now holds a 5-8-2 (3-2-2 HCAC) mark.
Defense ruled the first half until Julia Gibson (New Carlisle/Tecumseh) netted a shot with under four minutes left to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead going into the break. In the 69th minute, freshman Emma White (St. Marys/Memorial) took a nice feed from junior Maddie Huffman (Maineville/Little Miami) and connected with the back of the net to give the visiting team a 2-0 lead.
Transylvania's Cassandra Thomas secured a Pioneer goal that made it 2-1 with just over 15 minutes left in regulation. In the 87th minute, Meron Roach netted the equalizer, sending the match into overtime. Neither team was able to produce a goal in either extra session as the contest ended in a 2-2 tie.
Both teams took a total of 17 shots, Bluffton putting eight on goal compared to five for Transylvania. The Pioneers forced four more corner kicks (9-5), and were whistled for four fewer fouls (13-9).
Junior keeper Jules Frazier (Nova/Mapleton) walked away with three saves between the posts. Huffman, White and Nina McGinn (Marion/Harding) paced the offense with three shots each.
The women are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 30, when they welcome Manchester University to Sears Athletic Complex. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
Volleyball
The Bluffton University women's volleyball team traveled to Franklin College on Oct. 27, 2019 for a Sunday tri-match. The Beavers split the day, securing a four-set HCAC victory (25-15, 25-20, 25-15, 25-20) over Franklin before dropping a four-set decision (25-20, 25-22, 27-25, 25-19) to Trine. Bluffton moved to 7-21 (3-4 HCAC) following the rare Sunday tri-match.
Junior Remi Bower (Deshler/Patrick Henry) powered the Beaver offense against Franklin with 20 kills. Sarah Heydinger (Tiro/Buckeye Central) and Carley Lester (Chesapeake) hammered home 10 and eight winners, respectively. Sophomore Maddie White (Ashland) dished out 37 assists in the victory.
Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) led Bluffton's offense with 29 digs. Bower and Kleman also fired two aces for the visiting team.
Bower was once again the voice of the offense against Trine, knocking down 17 kills. Heydinger put down five winners. White tallied 22 helpers against the Thunder.
Kleman rallied the defense with 16 pickups. She also fired four service aces with Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) adding three aces.
The women are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 30, when they welcome conference rival Defiance College to the Sommer Center for their last home match of the season and Senior Night. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Men’s soccer
The Bluffton University men's soccer team traveled to Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019 for a matchup against Transylvania University. The Beavers dropped a 6-0 decision to the Pioneers. Bluffton slipped to 6-11 (1-6 HCAC) on the season, while Transylvania improved to 9-6 (6-1 HCAC).
An own goal midway through the first stanza gave the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead and the floodgates swung open right behind it. Transylvania would tally four more goals in the first 45 minutes to give the home team a comfortable 5-0 lead at the half.
The Pioneers' Alex Shkraba was the only one to connect with the back of the net in the second frame which secured the 6-0 Transy victory. Bluffton's Justin Combs (Union/Northmont) led the Beaver offense with one shot on goal.
Bluffton was only able to fire a total of four shots, compared to Transylvania's 29. The home team forced three more corner kicks (6-3) and was whistled for five fewer fouls (11-6). Freshman keeper Tanner Newport (Hamilton, VA/Loudoun Valley) walked away with 13 saves in the loss.
The men are back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 30, when they head to Manchester University for a matchup against the Spartans. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
