Boys' soccer: Unbeaten Kenton falls to Pirates
By Cort Reynolds
KENTON - The Bluffton boys soccer team tallied two second half goals to come from behind and defeat Kenton on the road at Chuck Merrill Field Saturday night.
The win over the previously-undefeated Wildcats lifted the Pirate record to 8-1, while Kenton fell to 6-1-2 with the defeat.
Bluffton ran its win streak to six matches with the comeback victory.
The Pirates trailed 1-0 at halftime after Wildcat sophomore Riley Risner scored in the 27th minute on an assist from senior Reed Cook.
But Bluffton came back to tie it nine minutes into the second half on a goal by Jonathan Schriner from a Simon Derstine feed.
Derstine then tallied the eventual game-winner unassisted five minutes later.
Kenton had a chance to tie it on a penalty kick try, but the Pirate keeper guessed right and made the crucial save.
Wildcat keeper Brent Rader made a fine outstretched save with about 10 minutes left to keep the score at 2-1. Rader also made a sliding stop with 3:50 to go, but Bluffton was able to run out the clock and preserve the win.
"Bluffton is one of the premier teams in northwest Ohio in Div. III," said Kenton head coach Jamie Bartlett. "We could have had two or three goals in the first half, but we left some on the table.
"We hit a conditioning wall in the second half with some guys playing new, different positions," he added.
Bluffton put nine of its 14 shots on goal. Kenton got off nine shots, five on goal. The Pirates made three saves, while Rader made five stops.
Bluffton plays at Riverdale Tuesday, September 17.
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
- History Day scavenger hunt with 12 clues
- Remembering the magic of Hankish sweet shop on Aug. 8
- Pirate boys golf opens with a win at Ft. Jennings, 2nd at Royal Invite
- Pirate girls golf opens season with Lincolnview Invite
- WIP Wednesday: Bluffton Scrap Artist Quilters
- July 2026 land transfers in the Bluffton school district
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Monday, August 3, 2026
- Bluffton Free or Reduced Lunch Program signup begins for 2026-2027
- Richland Township appoints new Zoning officials, hiring roads and zoning employees
- 2025-2026 BHS Athletic Boosters fundraiser goes digital
- Chicken BBQ tickets available for August 8, Bluffton History Day
- 2026 PorchFest preview: Amanda Rule, Dylan Spindler, Mason Ault and Piece of Mind