Bluffton girls soccer defeats Anna

By Cort Reynolds

The Bluffton High School girls soccer team overcame a very early deficit to beat visiting Anna 2-1 in the home opener Thursday, August 22, at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirates improved to 2-0 with the win over the Rocket girls.

Anna scored in the first minute when Chelsea McEldowney hit the back of the net to provide a 1-0 lead.

But Pirate Aubrey Burkholder tallied the unassisted equalizer in the 14th minute.

Phoebe Edwards-Leeper then broke the tie by netting the eventual game-winner off a Blair Utendorf assist in the 32nd minute.

Neither team scored over the final 47 minutes.

Pirate Kynzie Ewing made five saves in goal, while teammate Elizabeth Hartzler was credited with four stops.

Anna keeper Abby Stroh made two saves.

The Pirates put four of their 11 shots on goal. The Rockets directed 10 of their 12 shots on goal. 

Bluffton visits Northwest Conference foe Spencerville in the league opener Tuesday, August 27.