By Cort Reynolds
COLUMBUS GROVE - The visiting Bluffton girls soccer team defeated Columbus Grove 4-1 Thursday evening in a Northwest Conference showdown of unbeatens.

Bluffton improved to 5-2-1 overall and sit atop the NWC at 4-0 after their fourth straight victory. CG fell to 5-4 and 3-1 in league play after losing the first-place league battle.

Regan Mittendorf scored first in the 21st minute, follwed by a score from Allison Diller two minutes later.  

Columbus Grove's Savannah Ridenour netted the lone Bulldog goal in the 37th minute to edge the hosts within 2-1 at halftime.

Pirate Clara Matthews extended the lead to 3-1 with a goal in the 63rd minute. Rebekah Hoff put the game out of reach 4-1 with the final goal in the 72nd minute.

Matthews and Laykin Garmatter each passed out one assist for the victors.

Bluffton directed 11 of its 24 shots on goal. Grove put three of its four shots on goal.

Julia Mehaffie made two saves in goal for the Pirates. Gwen Langhals made seven stops for CG.

Bluffton hosts local league foe Allen East September 21.