The Bluffton University women's soccer team is excited to kick off the Zach Hammon era when the Beavers hit the pitch this fall. Kevin Gregory led the women for four years before heading home to Texas when he was named the head coach at Austin College. Bluffton returns all of its goal scoring and it will look to take advantage of improved depth and experience in 2022.
All-Heartland Conference standouts Nina McGinn (Marion/Harding) and Katelyn Burden (Sidney) have been fixtures in the lineup since they stepped on campus. McGinn is a speed merchant who was tied for team-high honors with three goals last season. She also chipped in with an assist for a total of seven points. The dynamic forward led the Beavers with 41 shots and she netted Bluffton's only penalty kick which turned out to be the game winner in Bluffton's 1-0 victory over Manchester in the 2021 finale.
Although she missed four matches, Burden also found the back of the net three times as a sophomore. Burden led the Beavers with two game winners while firing 11 shots from her defender position. She also played a key role in Bluffton pitching three shutouts in 2021.
Taylor Dye (Big Prairie/West Holmes) had a breakout junior campaign in 2021, starting in 15 matches while putting up a team-best nine points. She found the back of the net three times and chipped in with three assists. Stacy Bienko (Perrysburg/Eastwood) is a fire starter with speed to burn when she fills it up from the wing.
Emma White (St. Marys/Memorial) and Katlin Sanning (Fairborn/Tecumseh) have combined to play in 74 matches during their three years at Bluffton. White has 39 starts as the tandem gives Bluffton a wealth of experience in the back. Senior Frankie Hamilton (Ashland/Mapleton) tallied three goals and two assists in 2021 while anchoring the midfield.
Brielle Collier (Anna) found a home in the net and she put up three shutouts for the Beavers. The 2021 freshman is already tied for 4th all-time with those three clean sheets. Collier racked up 91 saves, allowing just 2.33 goals per game as a freshman
Junior Jordan Jennings (Portsmouth/Wheelersburg) and sophomore Evie Masters (Arcadia/Van Buren) are standout defenders who both started all 16 matches a year ago.
Following road tussles at Oberlin and Hiram, Bluffton welcomes Olivet College for the home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 7. Transylvania comes to town for the Heartland Conference lidlifter on Wednesday, Sept. 28, kicking off nine straight HCAC matchups. Rival Defiance travels to the Sears Complex on October 19 before the regular season comes to a close at Manchester one week later on October 26.
For more Bluffton University sports, visit www.blufftonbeavers.com
