By Keisha Holtsberry, sports information assistant

Stats http://www.bluffton.edu/sports/womenssoccer/2011/11-02-ws.htm

The Bluffton University women's soccer team took full advantage of its first-ever trip to the Heartland Conference semifinals, knocking off #1 seed Earlham College on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. The Beavers advanced to the HCAC finals with a 3-2 win over Earlham. Bluffton will meet #2 seed Hanover College, a 4-2 penalty-kick victor over #3 Transylvania University this afternoon, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 5.

The Beavers took a 1-0 lead at the 24:19 mark when Bluffton freshman Taylor Fultz (Camden/Preble Shawnee) capitalized on a feed from sophomore Megan Moreo (Spencerville/Delphos Jefferson) and put the ball in the back of the net. The score remianed 1-0 as the teams went their separate ways after 45 minutes of action.

Less than four minutes into the second period, Fultz made the score 2-0 with her Heartland Conference-best 11th goal of the season. The Quakers responded with an Ikumi Doucette tally just 10 minutes later, cutting the deficit in half.

Bluffton senior Kourtney Lewis (Arlington/Riverdale) buried what would be the game-winner six minutes later when her second goal of the season gave the Beavers a 3-1 advantage. Earlham battled until the end, not wanting to see its season come to an end, but Doucette's second goal of the afternoon was all the home team could muster as Bluffton stunned the Quakers with their 3-2 victory.

Sophomore keeper Maggie Armstrong (Vevay, Ind./Switzerland Cty.) picked up five saves. Fultz paced the offense with three shots on frame, while sophomore Jessica Ramirez (Archbold) and freshman Katie Reid (Midlothian, Va./Manchester) both took two shots in the victory.

Earlham fired four more shots (14-10), but both teams put seven on frame. Bluffton was whistled for four more fouls than the Quakers (10-6), while Earlham finished with a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.

The Beavers now move into the Heartland Conference finals at Hanover College on Saturday, Nov. 5. The championship match is slated for 1 p.m.