By Cort Reynolds

HARROD__The visiting Bluffton High School girls soccer team defeated backyard league rival Allen East 4-0 in a Northwest Conference match on Tuesday evening, September 16 at Goodwin Field.

The Pirate girls improved to 5-5 overall with the shutout win, and upped their league mark to 4-0 to stay tied for first place with two conference matches left. 

Defending champion Columbus Grove is also 4-0 in the NWC.

AE fell to 1-8-1 overall and 1-3 in NWC play after the defeat.

The Pirates netted two goals in each half to seal the verdict.

Bluffton’s Carly Wise scored two goals to pace the victorious offense. She tallied the game’s first goal in the 12th minute off an assist by Aubrey Burkholder.

Maelee Miller found the back of the net in the 26th minute from a Lilly Dagani assist to put the Pirates ahead 2-0 at intermission.

Blair Utendorf gave Bluffton a little breathing room with an insurance goal in the 59th minute, as Dagani once again dished out the helper.

Wise netted her second goal via a pass from Samantha Rueller in the 79th minute to put the final touch on the 4-0 win.

Bluffton launched 16 of its 27 passes on goal. Allen East mustered only three shots, all on goal.

Bluffton goalie Kynzie Ewing made three saves in goal. AE stopped 12 Pirate shots.

Bluffton hosts solid WBL foe Elida (6-2) in a non-league match on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m.

The Pirates entertain Grove (6-1-2, 4-0 NWC) in the league finale showdown on Sept. 30, a match which will almost certainly decide the NWC crown. 

The rivals have combined to win the last five league titles, with the Pirates taking three and CG winning it last year behind graduated NWC Player of the Year Lauryn Auchmuty.

The other remaining league game for the Pirates is at Delphos Jefferson (4-5, 1-1 NWC) on Sept. 25.