In a battle of league unbeatens, the Bluffton girls soccer team lost 3-1 to Columbus Grove Tuesday evening on their home turf, Steinmetz Field.

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSDwkTWCK4s

The defending NWC champion Pirate girls fell to 10-3-1 overall and 4-1 in the NWC with the defeat. It was the first loss for Bluffton in its last 10 matches.

CG improved to 10-1-1 overall and took sole possession of first place in the NWC, clinching at least a share of the crown with the win.

The Bulldog girls play at Crestview (6-6, 2-3 NWC) Oct. 11 in their final league game. Grove can clinch an outright league crown by beating the Knights.

Bulldog Savannah Ridenour started the scoring at Bluffton with a goal in the 24th minute.

Teammate Lauren Achmuty extended the Grove lead to 2-0 with a goal five minutes into the second half.

Pirate Riley Eachus netted the lone Bluffton goal in the 70th minute to cut the deficit to 2-1. Senior Reagan Mittendorf assisted on the Eachus score.

But Auchmuty answered five minutes later to provide an insurance goal and put the game out of reach.

The Pirate offense peppered CG with 37 shots, 14 of which were on goal, but were only able to score on one of them. Grove got off just nine shots but made them count by putting three of their four shots on target in the back of the net.

Pirate junior keeper Julia Mehaffie made one save in goal. The CG keeper was credited with 13 stops. 

Bluffton (3-2-1 road) plays at non-league local rival Cory-Rawson (4-6-1) Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 5 p.m.

Bluffton's final conference match is a makeup contest at home vs. Ada (2-7-1, 0-3-1 NWC) Wednesday night, Oct. 13. The Pirates need a win and a Grove loss to Crestview to earn a tie for the NWC title.