By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The Bluffton boys soccer team, coming off a state runner-up showing, opened its 2020 campaign with a 5-1 home win over Pettisville Saturday night.
Jonathon Schriner kicked off the Pirate scoring with a goal in the fifth minute.
Pettisville's Zakkai Kaufmann tied it 1-1 with a score six minutes later.
But then Pirate Nolan Hoffman found the back of the net in the 31st minute, and Kaden Basil scored in the 40th minute to extend the lead to 3-1 at halftime.
Justin Good then tallied goals in back-to-back minutes (49th, 50th) to put the game out of reach.
Pettisville was held to just five shots, two of which were on goal. Pirate keeper Nic Essinger made one save.
Bluffton fired 24 shots, and 11 were on goal. Five of those shots were saved by Brayden Barrett.
The Pirates kick off defense of their five conference titles in a row when they play next on Monday, Aug. 31, at home vs. Spencerville. Play at Steinmetz Field kicks off at 6:55 p.m.
