By Cort Reynolds

LIMA __ The visiting Bluffton girls soccer squad scored 12 first half goals and went on to defeat Lima Central Catholic 12-0 in a Northwest Conference mismatch on Thursday night, September 12.

The Pirate record improved to 5-2-1 overall and 3-0 in NWC play after the blowout win. LCC fell to 0-7 overall and 0-4 in the NWC with the lopsided loss.

Pirate Jordan Schweingruber started the onslaught with an unassisted goal in the sixth minute. 

Aubrey Burkholder then fired home four goals in a memorably productive 10-minute span. She found the back of the net in the 10th minute from Mya McDougle, then scored two minutes later on a Jaicelyn Morris feed.

McDougle then tallied the first of her two goals in the 12th minute from Burkholder. 

Morris again assisted Burkholder on a goal in the 17th minute that put the Pirates ahead 5-0. Macy Schaadt then fed Burkholder for her fourth goal in the 19th minute. 

Phoebe Edwards-Leeper netted a goal in the 27th minute from Jenna Downey. A minute later, Nora Matthews scored on a pass from McDougle. 

Audra Snyder tallied in the 31st minute, and Downey scored two minutes later from Willow Derstine. 

Morris scored in the 36th minute unassisted. McDougle added her second goal in the 37th minute off another Morris feed to make it 12-0.

Burkholder ended up with four goals and one assist. Morris passed out three assists and scored a goal. McDougle amassed two goals and a pair of assists. 

Bluffton put 18 of their 23 shots on goal. The dominating Pirate defense did not even allow LCC to get a shot off.

Pirate keepers Kynzie Ewing and Ryleigh Rex did not have to make a save, while the LCC keeper was credited with six stops in goal.

The Pirate girls (3-0 NWC) host backyard league rival Allen East (4-3, 1-2 NWC) Tuesday, September 17. AE all-state senior Rilynn Jones recently surpassed the 100-goal mark in her Mustang career.

Bluffton is tied atop the NWC standing with Columbus Grove. They visit Grove (6-0-1, 3-0 NWC) Sept. 30 in a game that looms as likely to decide the league champion.