In a sudden death shoot-out Pirates advance to regionals

By Mitch Kingsley - special to the Icon
In a heart-stopping District Final boys' soccer game at Kalida, the Bluffton Pirates finally had their way with the Kalida Wildcats. The game went to sudden death shootout even, and Bluffton final got the result, 4-3 on Simon Derstine's shot.

Bluffton’s Braden Conrad got the Pirates on the board assisted by John Shriner at the 14 minute in the game. Kalida did not answer back until they evened it (#18) at the 68 min.

The teams battled valiantly through the end of regulation; then through two overtime periods, with the game even at 1. In the first shootout both teams achieved 3 goals. The play got even more serious with a sudden death shoot out. In this final episode Bluffton came out with 4 nets to 3 for Kaida.

The Bluffton keeper had 3 saves in regulation, while the Kalida keeper also had three saves. Bluffton had 4 shots on goal as did Kalida.

Bluffton meets the Ottawa Hills-Archbold winner on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. in Findlay.