By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School boys soccer team rallied late but came up just short vs visiting power Ottoville, losing 3-2 in a non-league match on Thursday, September 5, at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirate record dropped to 1-5 with the tough defeat. The Big Green improved to 5-1 after the win.

Ottoville led 2-0, but the Pirates scored twice in the final 10 minutes to make it close. However, a 77th-minute goal by the Big Green proved to be the difference.

Ottoville netted the only goal of the first half in the 20th minute when Ashton Miller found the back of the net.

The visitors doubled the lead to 2-0 when Jaden Saxton scored three minutes into the second half. 

Jackson Brauen cut the Pirate deficit to one when he netted a goal in the 71st minute. 

The Big Green’s Nick Portana tallied a key insurance goal in the 77th minute to restore the lead to two at 3-1.

Pirate Chase Kelly scored a goal a minute later to pull the hosts within a goal, but they couldn’t add the equalizer in the little time remaining.  

The Pirates fired six of their nine shots on goal. The Big Green directed 10 of their 13 shots on target. 

Bluffton keeper Alek Davis made six saves, while Emmitt Kidd added one stop in goal. The visiting Ottoville keeper was credited with four saves.

The Pirates visit Archbold (2-2) on Saturday afternoon. Bluffton then travels to Liberty-Benton (5-1) on Tuesday, Sept. 10.