Bluffton visits Columbus Grove in a showdown for the NWC title Monday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m.

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON - Playing at home, the Bluffton High School girls soccer team dominated visiting local Northwest Conference rival Delphos Jefferson 5-0 on September 26.

The Pirate record improved to 8-2-1 overall and 5-0 in NWC play after the decisive home win.  

The Wildcat girls fell to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in the NWC with the loss.

Bluffton remains ahead of second-place Columbus Grove (9-0-2, 3-0 NWC) atop the NWC standings with the convincing triumph. 

Pirate junior Blair Utendorf tallied the first of her two goals in the 37th minute to break open a scoreless battle. Aubrey Burkholder dished out the first of her four assists on the play.

Audra Snyder then made it 2-0 by netting an unassisted goal to give the hosts a two-goal lead at intermission.

Utendorf extended the lead to 3-0 on a Burkholder feed in the 54th minute.

Bluffton’s Mya McDougle then scored in the 71st and 77th minutes, both times from Burkholder, to put the game well out of reach.

The Pirate defense allowed just four shots, three of which were on goal, in posting the clean sheet.

Bluffton directed 18 of its 31 shots on goal. 

Pirate goalkeeper Ryleigh Rex stopped two DJ shots while Kynzie Ewing made one save. Sydnee Bayman was credited with 13 stops in goal for the Wildcats.

Bluffton visits Columbus Grove in a showdown for the NWC title Monday, Sept. 30 at 5 p.m. A Pirate win would clinch another league title.

Bluffton then visits Olentangy Thursday, October 3.