Here’s a round up of Bluffton University sport events since Saturday.
Women’s golf
The Bluffton University women's golf team shaved 16 strokes off its Saturday score at the Heidelberg Women's Fall Invitational when the Beavers shot a 379 on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. Bluffton finished the weekend with a 774 at Mohawk Golf & Country Club, good for 2nd all-time.
Freshman Haley Gill (Indianapolis, IN/Franklin Central) continued her hot play with a Bluffton record-tying 89 on Sunday as she went 94-89 for a 183 total. Sophomore Abby Bullion (Bellevue) shot a 96, giving her a weekend score of 197. Marissa Hall (Avon Lake) and Keely Briggs both tallied 97's, while Grace Branson (Carlisle) and Brylee Oberdorf (Green Springs/Clyde) were just off the pace at 100 and 102, respectively.
Bluffton is at home on Saturday, Sept. 21, for the 2019 Heartland Conference Preview at the Bluffton Golf Club. The two-day event will allow the HCAC women's golf squads to make a test run of the course prior to the title weekend on October 12-13.
Women’s soccer
The Bluffton University women's soccer team hit the pitch for a 2 p.m. matchup against Hiram College on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. The Beavers picked up a 1-0 shutout win and improved to 2-4 on the season while Hiram dropped to 1-5.
A hard fought 45 minutes by both sides kept the match scoreless through the first half. Midway through the second stanza, junior Maddie Huffman (Maineville/Little Miami) took a nice feed from freshman Stacie Bienko (Perrysburg/Eastwood) and found the back of the net to give the Beavers a 1-0 lead that held up for the final score.
Bluffton was able to put up 21 shots while Hiram only secured 17. The Beavers also forced five more corner kicks (8-3) but racked up two more fouls (16-14). Junior goalie Sienna Sullivan (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson) walked away with eight saves on the day for her first victory between the pipes this season.
The Beavers will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 18, when they hit the road to Grace Christian. Kick off is slated for 5 p.m.
Men's soccer
The Bluffton University men's soccer team hit the road for an evening matchup against Wittenberg University and dropped a 2-1 decisions on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. The Beavers slipped to 3-3 on the season, while the Tigers improved to 2-4.
Thirteen minutes into the game, Wittenberg's Sean Williams netted a shot that gave the Tigers an early 1-0 lead that held through the first half. Aaron Craddock knocked in a penalty kick early in the second half for Wittenberg to give the home team a 2-0 advantage. Sophomore Dalton Taynor (Troy/Miami East) answered back with a penalty kick of his own in minute 75, but the Tigers were able to hold off the Beavers en route to a 2-1 victory.
Bluffton lost the battle of the shots 18-8. Wittenberg also forced eight more corner kicks (9-1) and racked up one less foul than the Beavers (10-9). Freshman keeper Tanner Newport (Hamilton, VA/Loudoun Valley) left the pitch with eight saves. Taynor led the offense with six of Bluffton's eight shot attempts.
The Bluffton men will be back in action after a week break when they head to Blackburn College on Friday, Sept. 20. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Women's volleyball
The Bluffton University volleyball team traveled to the College of Wooster on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, but came up short at the Ginny Hunt Kilt Classic. Baldwin Wallace secured a 3-0 sweep (25-19, 25-14, 25-20) of the Beavers, while Pitt.-Bradford was able to hold off Bluffton 3-1 (26-24, 25-17, 21-25, 25-21). The Beavers dropped to 1-8 on the season.
Sarah Heydinger (Trio/Buckeye Central) was the offensive igniter against the Yellow Jackets, leading Bluffton with seven kills and two service aces. Remi Bower (Deshler/Patrick Henry) tallied three kills for the visiting team. Freshman Elle Price (Findlay) finished with seven assists and sophomore Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) led the defense with 15 digs.
Bower and Heydinger led the offense again against the Panthers with 17 and 13 winners, respectively. Maddie White (Ashland) also chipped in six kills. Price dished out 27 assists in the second match of the night. Kleman led the defensive charge again with 15 digs, while freshman Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) picked up 12.
Bluffton will take the court again on Saturday, Sept. 14, when the Beavers match up against host Wooster at 11 a.m. The women finish up the weekend tournament against Oberlin College at 1 p.m.
