Story by Cort Reynolds
Photos by Rae Staton
TIFFIN - Previously-unbeaten Bluffton suffered its first loss of the season to Riverdale 1-0 in the Div. III boys soccer district finals on a cold late Saturday morning at Tiffin Columbian's Frost-Kalnow Stadium.
The upset defeat dropped the top-seeded Pirate boys record to 16-1-2 as their dream season came to an abrupt end. Defending state runner-up Bluffton came into the match ranked first in the northwest district and second in the state.
Second seed Riverdale (14-3-2) advanced to the regional semifinals/round of 16 against Continental or Kalida November 4 at a site TBA.
Falcon freshman Mitchell O'Flaherty scored the game's only goal in the 40th minute just before halftime. Riverdale then held off Bluffton's repeated second half offensive pushes to post the shutout win.
Bluffton managed to get off 10 shots, but only two were on goal. It was the first time the Pirates were shut out this season. They tied Div. I Perrysburg 2-2 and Div. II power Shawnee 1-1 in their other non-wins.
Riverdale mustered only five shots, two of which were on goal.
But stout defense by the North Central Ohio Soccer Association champion Falcons spelled the difference.
Bluffton keeper Nic Essinger made one save, while Falcon keeper Mike Hough was credited with two stops.
With the win, the Falcons avenged a 1-0 overtime loss to Bluffton in the 2019 district finals at Tiffin. The rivals also played to a 0-0 tie last regular season.
Earlier this season, the Pirates defeated Riverdale 4-2 on October 1 at Bluffton. The only other Falcon losses have come at Kenton September 5 (2-0), and at Upper Sandusky Sept. 21 (6-2). Bluffton beat Kenton 2-0 September 17.
The favored Pirates were cold due to the weather, and having played just one game over the previous 15 days were probably rusty as well - while also playing with the burden of high expectations.
Their final regular season game was a 4-1 win at tough Kalida on October 15. After a nine-day layoff following a first round tournament bye, the Pirates whipped Elmore Woodmore 9-0 on October 24.
Bluffton then advanced to the district finals when Ada was forced to forfeit their scheduled Oct. 28 semifinal battle.
The Falcons reached the district finals with a 4-0 semifinal win over third-seeded Van Buren Wednesday night.
Bluffton made it to the 2019 state title game by winning four straight overtime games in the tournament, starting with the district finals OT victory against Riverdale.
