By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Bluffton High School girls soccer team scored two minutes apart and held on to beat Kalida 2-1 in a non-conference match Saturday, October 1.

The victory upped the Pirate record to 11-2 overall. Meanwhile, the Wildcats fell to 5-7 with the loss.

Pirate Allison Diller tallied the game's first goal in the 31st minute on an assist from Kendal Giesige. 

Sami Scoles then found the back of the net two minutes later on a Riley Eachus dish to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

Kalida's Alexis Gardner scored in the 40th minute to pull the hosts within 2-1 at intermission.

Neither team scored in the defensive second half.

The Pirate girls directed eight of their 16 shots on goal. The  Wildcats put three shots on goal.

Pirate goalkeepers Julia Mehaffie made two saves, while Kassidy Hipsher saved six shots in goal for the Wildcats. 

The Pirates (5-0 NWC) visit defending NWC champion Columbus Grove (9-1-1, 4-0 NWC) in a showdown for the league title Tuesday, October 4. Bluffton won the 2020 NWC crown and is looking to take it back from last year's champs in Grove.