Win moves Bluffton to 6-10 overall
Dalton's Taynor's (Troy/Miami East) second goal of the match sent Bluffton to its first Heartland Conference win of the season when the sophomore found the back of the net in minute 107 for the 3-2 victory! The Beavers improved to 6-10 overall and 1-5 in the HCAC, while MSJ slipped to 3-13 and 1-5 in the conference.
Taynor took a feed from Christian Zapata (Livonia, MI/Adlai E. Stevenson) and Hunter Coffey (Wapakoneta) to secure the first goal of the match and give the Beavers and early 1-0 lead at the 16:14 mark. MSJ answered back with a goal of their own to tie the game at 1-1 going into the half.
The Lions' Will Cissell netted the first shot of the second stanza to give MSJ a 2-1 lead. In the 79th minute, Patrick Spillman (Anderson, IN/Frankton) took a feed from Zapata for a Beaver goal to tie the match 2-2 and send it into overtime. A strong defensive presence from both teams kept the first overtime scoreless. With just over three minutes left in the second extra session, a wind-aided pass from Elijah Grieser (Wauseon/Pettisville) allowed Taynor to find the back of the net again, securing the 3-2 victory.
MSJ put up 30 shots, compared to Bluffton's 21. The Lions also forced three more corner kicks (5-2) but were whistled for two fewer fouls (17-15). Freshman keeper Tanner Newport (Hamilton, VA/Loudoun Valley) walked away with nine saves for his sixth victory of the season.
Bluffton will head south down Interstate 75 for a meeting with Heartland Conference-leading Transylvania on Saturday, Oct. 26. The men are slated for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff following the women's 1 p.m. matchup with the Pioneers in Lexington, Ky.
Stories Posted This Week
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
- BHS soccer alumni games and food pantry collection, Aug. 8
- Chicken BBQ tickets available for August 8, Bluffton History Day
- 2026 PorchFest preview: Amanda Rule, Dylan Spindler, Mason Ault and Piece of Mind
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Friday, July 31, 2026
- Gayla Sue Conaway worked for Marathon Oil Company
- TedFest '26 provides all-day fun in Pandora
- Drum Circle added to August 29 PorchFest
- Business Collective holds "War Room" on August 6
- Speed limit on State Route 103 reduced west of I-75
- Check out August 2026 programs and services at Bluffton Public Library
Thursday, July 30, 2026
- Vaccination clinics in Lima, Aug 3, 5 and 6 by appointment
- Backman’s My Friends is topic for BPL book discussions
- Wanted: Photos of bicycles in the Swiss Settlement
- Monday evening Hummin' & Strummin' Song Circle scheduled
- Time in a Bottle: Biologic aging versus our actual age
- Hyper-local focus of the Ada Icon and Bluffton Icon
- Learn about 92 years of Fett Hardware on Bluffton History Day