By Cort Reynolds

ELIDA--The Bluffton High School boys soccer team beat Sylvania Northview 3-2 in overtime on penalty kicks Saturday evening in the annual Elida Kickoff Classic.

The original semifinal match was postponed from Thursday evening due to extreme heat and humidity.

The winning shoot-out goal came from Cole Burkholder and the Pirates' two regulation goals both came from Theo Andreas.

The Pirate boys improved to 1-2 with the dramatic victory.  

Host Elida lost to Botkins 2-0 in the other match Saturday evening.

Bluffton will open defense of its multiple Northwest Conference title run Monday at 5 p.m. in Spencerville (0-1). 

The Pirates have not lost an NWC match since the boys soccer’s inception as league-sponsored sport in 2015.