By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The host Bluffton boys soccer team stomped Spencerville 10-0 in the Northwest Conference opener Monday night.
The Pirates improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the shutout victory. The Bearcats fell to 1-1 and 0-1 in the league with the lopsided loss.
Senior Jonathan Schriner tallied three goals and dished out an assist to pace the Pirate attack. He scored in the eighth, 29th and 39th minutes.
Simon Derstine started the scoring onslaught four minutes into the mismatch. After Schriner netted his first goal, Josh Mehaffie tallied in the 28th minute to make it 3-0.
Tayton Kleman followed the second Schriner score with one of his own in the 35th minute. Schriner scored again just before the break to extend the lead to 6-0 at halftime.
Colling Oglesbee tallied a goal in the 48th minute, followed by a score from Luke Shepard in the 63rd minute to advance the margin to 8-0. Nolan Hoffman closed the blowout on a pair of goals in the 75th and 79th minutes.
Kaden Basil passed out three assists, while Derstine doled out two helpers. Jude Spallinger, Thad Mittendorf, Ethan Oglesbee and Collin Oglesbee each added one assist.
Bluffton put 13 of its 20 shots on goal.
Spencerville got off one shot, and it was on goal for the lone Nic Essinger save. The Pirates are now 26-0-0 in NWC play over the past six seasons.
Bluffton hosts Jonathan Alder Saturday, September 5 at 6 p.m. in Steinmetz Field.
