By: Ryan Schadewald, sports information assistant
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio - The Bluffton men’s soccer team fell in a tough contest to the Ohio Christian University Trailblazers by a 3-2 tally on Saturday, Sept. 26. The loss dropped the Beavers to 0-7, while the Blazers improved to 4-3.
The scoring started just five minutes in as an own goal off a deflection gave the home team 1-0 advantage. Four minutes later Alex Marstiller found the back of the net, taking advantage of a one-on-one opportunity and stunning the Beavers who took a 2-0 deficit into the halftime break.
The scoring continued early in the final stanza when John Eckenrode (Northwood/Millbury Lake) found the back of the net on a cross from the back post by Blake Drewes (Archbold) to cut the Trailblazer lead to 2-1 in the 54th minute. But the home team would respond on a penalty kick from Josh Liedtke to take a 3-1 lead in the 62nd minute. Bluffton would add a tally in the 89th minute when Eckenrode returned the favor on a cross, finding Drewes who headed it into the net, but it was too little, too late as the Beavers fell by a 3-2 count.
Bluffton was outshot in the contest, 22-10, including 13-5 on frame. Eckenrode and Drewes both finished with a goal and an assist apiece, while Eckenrode and Grant Stutzman (Sugarcreek/Hiland) led the visitors with three shots each. Junior keeper Matt Hardman-Zimmerman (Forest City, PA) finished the contest with 10 saves.
Bluffton returns home to wrap up its non-conference schedule when the Beavers square off against Cleary University on Wednesday, Sept. 30. The match is set to begin at 4 p.m. at the Sears Complex. Come support your Beavers!
-BEAVERS-
