By Cort Reynolds

SPENCERVILLE__The visiting Bluffton High School girls soccer team shut out Spencerville 1-0 in the Northwest Conference opener on Tuesday, September 1.

The Pirate girls improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the NWC with the defensive battle win.

The Bearcats fell to 1-3-1 overall and 0-1 in NWC play after the defeat.

The game was scoreless at halftime, and stayed 0-0 25 minutes into the second half.

Bluffton’s Nora Matthews then netted the game’s lone goal in the 65^th minute unassisted to break the tie.

Bluffton directed five of its 10 shots on goal.

Spencerville managed just three shots vs. the Pirate defense, two of which were on frame. 

Pirate keeper Maelee Miller saved two shots in posting the clean-sheet win.

The Spencerville keeper made four saves in goal.

Bluffton hosts tough WBL foe Celina (2-0-1) on Thursday. The Bulldogs tied Wapakoneta 1-1 Tuesday night.