Rival Defiance College proved to be the perfect elixir for a Bluffton University women's soccer team that was looking for its first Heartland Conference victory since 2015. The Beavers nearly capped off the shutout, downing Defiance 3-1 on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Sears Complex. Bluffton improved to 2-8 overall and 1-1 in the HCAC, while Defiance slipped to 1-8 and 0-2 in the conference.

Senior standout Brittany Huff (Union/Northmont) put Bluffton on top less than 12 minutes into the contest when she buried a free kick from just over the center line, giving the home team a lead it would never relinquish!

Freshman Sydney Staton (Bluffton) connected with junior Skylar Liming (St Marys/Memorial) following the second half kickoff and Liming did the rest, depositing it in the back of the net from the far right wing 18 seconds into period two! Huff and Liming combined to make it 3-0 just over two minutes later when Huff lofted it to Liming at midfield. Liming was cool as a cucumber, forcing the Defiance keeper to come out as she deftly slipped past her for a team-best fifth goal of the season.

Liming paced the home team with eight of Bluffton's 18 shots, including seven on frame. The Jackets were whistled for 10 fouls to just one for the Beavers. Bluffton forced four corner kicks, two more than the Jackets. Kassie Memmer broke up the shutout when she punched a Defiance goal in at the 88:52 mark. Freshman keeper Sienna Sullivan (Columbus/Hilliard Davidson) picked up six saves in her second victory of the season.

Bluffton travels to Franklin College for a 5 p.m. matchup with the Grizzlies on Saturday, Oct. 7.

-BEAVERS-