Beats Grove in showdown to win league 

By Cort Reynolds

CORRECTED VERSION / BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls soccer team beat visiting rival Columbus Grove 2-1 in a battle of league unbeatens to capture the Northwest Conference championship at Steinmetz Field and punctuate Pirate Senior Night on Tuesday, September 30.

Bluffton senior Aubrey Burkholder netted the tie-breaking goal in the 53rd minute to put the Pirates ahead for good, 2-1. Neither team could score over the final 27 minutes as Bluffton preserved the win and won the title.

The Pirate girls finished 6-0 in the NWC and improved to 7-7 overall with the hard-fought win. The victory clinched the fifth outright league title in program history, and seventh crown overall.

Twelve Pirate seniors went out with a league-clinching win in their final home regular season match.

Meanwhile, CG fell to 9-2-2 overall and 4-1 in NWC play after the defeat.

The two rivals have shared the last six NWC titles, with Bluffton winning four of those crowns. Grove has won two league titles.

Bluffton sophomore Willow Derstine started the scoring vs. CG with a goal in the 19th minute via an assist by Keyrsten Kleman.

Grove’s Ruth Myers equalized it in the 27th minute with a goal to make it 1-1. It stayed that way into halftime, and for 26 minutes total until Burkholder netted the unassisted game-winner.

Bluffton directed six of its 12 shots on goal. Grove put six of its 10 shots on target. 

Bluffton senior keeper Kynzie Ewing made five saves, while CG keeper Erianne Heffner was credited with four saves.

Seniors Mya McDougle, Avery Ulrey, Jenna Downey, Blair Utendorf, Lauren Dearth, Lilly Dagani, Burkholder, Macy Schaadt, Ewing, Jaicelyn Morris, Claire Phillips and Alli Shilling celebrated a conference crown with the victory at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirates were 3-0 at home in NWC play and 4-4 overall at Steinmetz this season.

The Pirates play at WBL foe St. Marys (5-6-3) on Thursday, October 2.

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