FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's soccer team made a 2-0 lead stand up as the Beavers downed Franklin 3-2 on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022.

Bluffton improved to 3-4-3 overall and 1-1 in the Heartland Conference, while Franklin fell to 1-7 and 1-1 in the HCAC.

Senior Dalton Taynor (Troy/Miami East) scored career goals 40 and 41 in the first 20 minutes as the Beavers opened a quick 2-0 lead over the home Grizzlies who were coming off an HCAC-opening 2-1 win over Anderson on Wednesday night. Dany Escamilla cut the deficit in half at the 30-minute mark, making it 2-1 Bluffton at the half.

Freshman Alex Brown (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) pushed it to 3-1 in minute 64. Franklin would not go away as the Grizzlies again made it a one-goal game with 14 minutes to play, however, Bluffton held on and moved to 1-1 in the conference with its first win over FC since 2017!

Franklin finished with a slim 13-12 edge in shots, but the Beavers dominated corner kicks to the tune of an 8-3 advantage. Bluffton was called for two more fouls (15-13).

Taynor piled up four shots, while junior running mate Elijah Zimmerman (Archbold) fired away with three attempts. Sophomore Angel Velasco-Urbina (Louisville, KY/Henry Clay) was up to the task with five saves in his third victory of the season manning the net.

Bluffton will welcome Mount St. Joseph to the Sears Complex for its first Heartland Conference home match of the season at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 5.