Women’s soccer
The Bluffton University women's soccer team secured a 1-1 tie with Anderson University in the final game of the 2019 season on a frigid Saturday, Nov. 2. With the tie, Bluffton (6-10-2 and 3-4-2 HCAC) forged its best mark in the Heartland Conference since 2011 when the Beavers went 5-3-1 and played in the HCAC championship game. Bluffton also extinguished Anderson't tournament hopes as the Ravens (10-3-4 and 4-2-3) needed a victory to have a chance at continuing their season.
Both defenses made their presence felt through the first 45 minutes as the score was 0-0 at the break. Bluffton put one up on the board first when Lauryn Foster-Wheeler (Sidney) found Maddie Huffman (Maineville/Little Miami) for a Beaver goal in the 60th minute. Less than 15 minutes later, Anderson's Emily Buchman netted a shot to tie the game at 1-1. Neither team was able to capitalize in either overtime session as the season ended for both teams with a 1-1 tie after 110 minutes of action.
Anderson fired a total of 29 shots compared to Bluffton's 11. The Beavers forced one more corner kick (7-6), but were whistled for 13 more fouls (17-4). Junior keepers Sienna Sullivan (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson) and Jules Frazier (Nova/Mapleton) secured eight and seven saves, respectively, in the tie.
The women ended their season with the best Bluffton record since 2015 when they went 7-11 (3-6 HCAC). The All-Heartland Conference hardware is slated to be handed out on Tuesday, Nov. 11, so continue to check the website.
Cross Country
The Bluffton University Cross Country Team traveled to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete at the Heartland Conference Championships on Sunday, Nov. 3. At the conference meet, the 1st to 12th place finishers earn all conference and receive a plaque while 13th through 20th are named honorable mention.
The guys took off first in the 8k race. Senior Dakota Frost (Edgerton, OH/Hicksville) earned a 17th place finish out of 88 runners with a time of 27:51. With him being on the top 20, he was named honorable mention. Senior Connor Gulick (St. Louisville, OH/Utica) came in 30th with a time of 28:55.
Freshman Max Chandler (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) was 3rd for the team with a time of 29:10. Sophomore Austin Hernandez (Marion, OH/Ridgedale) came in 44th with a time of 29:31. Rounding out the top 5 for Bluffton was freshman Britton Boyle (Middletown, OH/Middletown) who finished with a time of 30:12. Freshman Morgan Adams (Dublin, OH/Coffman) finished with a time of 30:30. The men placed 6th.
The women took off from the line next in the 6k race. Senior Alexis Cash (Gaines, MI/Lake Fenton) came in first for the Beavers with a 6th place finish in time of 24:31. She was the two-time defending HCAC women's cross country champion. Junior Bailie Barrington (Waynesfield, OH/Waynesfield-Goshen) came in 11th at a time of 25:04. Both Cash and Barrington secured all conference.
Junior Kimmie Hetrick (Fremont, OH/Ross) placed 15th with a time of 25:39 en route to honorable mention recognition. Senior Arie Cox (Ontario, OH/Ontario) took 4th for the Beavers with a time of 26:14. Senior Tami Groff (Versailles, OH/Versailles) rounded out the top 5 with a time of 27:19.
Sophomore Hope Nixon (Johnstown, OH/Johnstown-Monroe), with a time of 27:46, and freshman Justine Lesniewski (Mantua, OH/Crestwood), with a time of 29:23, came in 6th and 7th for the Beavers who finished in 4th place as a team.
"For both teams, it was not what we wanted to place. We are all looking forward to some revenge at Regionals," stated Groff.
The Beavers will head to Calvin College for the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Volleyball
The Bluffton University women's volleyball team traveled across Indiana to Terre Haute for a matchup against Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. The Beavers dropped a three-set decision (25-22, 26-24, 25-22) to the Engineers.
Junior Remi Bower (Deshler/Patrick Henry) powered the offense with 17 kills. Sarah Heydinger (Tiro/Buckeye Central) and senior Carley Lester (Chesapeake) chipped in nine and six kills, respectively. Sophomore setter Maddie White (Ashland) dished out 30 assists in the loss.
Sophomore Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) led the Beaver defense with 12 digs. Junior Chelsey Taylor (Hicksville) tallied 10 pickups. Freshmen Kaylie Campbell (Camden/Preble Shawnee) and Noel Ufferman (Marysville/Fairbanks) were in on five and three blocks, respectively.
Despite the loss on Saturday, the Beavers will return to the Heartland Conference Tournament for the 12th consecutive season thanks to losses by Mount St. Joseph and Franklin! Bluffton will travel to Richmond, Ind., on Wednesday, Nov. 6, to take on #3 seed Earlham College in the first round of the HCAC tourney. Go Beavers!
Men’s soccer
The Bluffton University men's soccer team faced the Anderson University Ravens on a frigid Nov. 2, 2019. Despite a tough fight, the Beavers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Ravens. Bluffton finished the season 6-13 (1-8 HCAC) while Anderson improved 7-10-2 (4-4-1 HCAC).
Bluffton struck early when Jacob Kiger (Groveport/St. Charles Prep) took a nice feed from Dalton Taynor (Troy/Miami East) and connected with the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. Anderson's Chase Litzke would net a shot for the Ravens to tie the match at 1-1 going into the half. Another Raven goal by Regan Frost would secure the 2-1 victory for the visiting team when he nailed the winner in the 78th minute.
Anderson fired a total of 32 shots with Bluffton putting up 17. The Ravens forced two more corner kicks (9-7), but were whistled for five more fouls (19-14). Freshman keeper Tanner Newport (Hamilton, VA/Loudoun Valley) secured 11 saves in the loss.
The men ended the season with their best overall record since 2014. The All-Heartland Conference hardware is slated to be handed out on Wednesday, Nov. 13, so continue to check the website.
