By Cort Reynolds

TOLEDO__The visiting Bluffton High School girls soccer team lost 5-0 to Toledo St. Ursula Academy in a non-league match on Tuesday, September 23. 

The Pirate girls dropped to 5-7 overall after the defeat. The Arrows improved to 6-1-2 with the victory.

Toledo St. Ursula senior Mackenzie Williams started the scoring in the 18th minute. Izzy Nitschke made it 2-0 by scoring in the 20th minute. 

Senior Lylah Willinger hit the back of the net in the 38th minute to put the hosts ahead 3-0 at intermission.

Freshman Lexi Cotterman tallied a goal in the 55th minute to put the game out of reach at 4-0.

Senior Arrow ace Nitschke netted her second goal in the 65th minute to make it 5-0.

Bluffton directed all three of its shots on goal. SUA put 17 of its 25 shots on goal.

Pirate keeper Kynzie Ewing made 13 saves in goal. St. Ursula saved all three Pirate shots to post the clean sheet.

Bluffton resumes league play at Delphos Jefferson (5-6, 1-2 NWC) on Thursday, Sept. 25 at Stadium Park in Delphos.

The Pirate girls are tied atop the league standings alongside defending champion Columbus Grove with two league games remaining. Both squads are 4-0 in the Northwest Conference.

The Pirates entertain Grove (6-1-2, 4-0 NWC) in a league finale showdown on Sept. 30, a match which will again determine the NWC champion. 

Their closest competitors (3-2 Spencerville and 2-2 Crestview) already have two losses.

Bluffton and Grove have combined to win the last five league titles, with the Pirates taking three of the five. CG won it last year.