Pirate kickers nipped by Perrysburg

The host Bluffton boys soccer squad suffered its first loss of the season 4-3 to Perrysburg Thursday night, September 2, under the lights at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirates dropped to 3-1 overall with the non-league defeat. The perennial Div. II power Yellow Jackets improved to 4-2 after the win.

Perrysburg built a 4-1 lead and then staved off a late Pirate rally to preserve the victory.

Yellow Jacket Noah Jones began the scoring with a goal 14:42 into the fray.

Teammate Alex Diaz doubled the lead to 2-0 with another score at the 28:02 mark.

Jude Spallinger got Bluffton on the scoreboard with a goal at the 37:12 juncture to pull the Pirates within 2-1 at intermission.

Perrysburg advanced their lead to 3-1 just 77 seconds into the second half on another Diaz goal.

Perrysburg extended the advantage to three on a goal by James Xiao just 3:05 after halftime.

Bluffton began its rally when Nolan Hoffman hit the back of the net at the 63:03 mark.

Just 84 seconds later, Spallinger tallied his second goal to inch the Pirates within 4-3. But Bluffton was unable to net a tying goal over the final 15 minutes.

Bluffton's Kyle Basil made five saves in goal.

Perrysburg keeper Issac Revill was credited with 10 stops.

Bluffton visits Ottoville Tuesday, September 7 at 7 p.m. The Pirates then visit Beavercreek Sept. 9.