By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
DEFIANCE, Ohio - The Bluffton University men’s soccer team made the short trip north to face arch-rival Defiance College on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The Beavers dropped the hard-fought rivalry game, 1-0. The loss puts Bluffton in a tough spot, falling to 2-4 in the HCAC (5-11 overall), while it catapults the Yellow Jackets into a tie for the pivotal fourth spot in the Heartland Conference standings at 3-2-1 and 5-10-2 overall.
The first half was played very evenly, with neither team finding the scoreboard and the Beavers holding a slight edge (6-5) in shots at the half.
The Yellow Jackets knocked in the lone goal of the contest in minute 61 as Anthony Ewing missed on his first opportunity, but was able to bury the rebound into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
The loss was another in which Bluffton finished with more shots, but not in the final score, as they led 13-8 in total attempts. They also doubled Defiance in fouls on the contest at 12-6 and had two more corner kicks (6-4) than the home team. Jordan Andrews (Clinton Township, Mich./Chippewa Valley), John Eckenrode (Northwood/Millbury Lake) and Jake Headings (Cincinnati/McNicholas) all fired three shots in the loss.
The Beavers will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 25 as they take on the #2 team in the HCAC, the Transylvania University Pioneers. The match will take place at Bluffton High School’s Steinmetz Field and will be part of a busy day for the Beavers with home soccer, volleyball, and football games. The men’s soccer contest will begin at 3:30 p.m. following the 1 p.m. women’s match. Come support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
