By Cort Reynolds

The visiting Bluffton High School girls soccer team clinched its second league title in three seasons with a convincing 4-1 road win at fellow league unbeaten Columbus Grove Tuesday night, October 4.

The decisive showdown victory upped the Pirate record to 12-2 overall, and they finished 6-0 in the NWC. 

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs fell to 9-2-1 overall and 4-1 in the NWC with the loss.

Pirate Karson Hauenstein scored the game's first goal in the eighth minute on an Allison Diller assist.

Diller then found the back of the net in the 16th minute on a  Kendal Giesige assist to make it 2-0. 

The margin stayed at two goals into halftime. 

Sami Scoles extended the lead to 3-0 off an Ella Armstrong feed in the 49th minute.

A minute later, Grove got on the scoreboard with a goal by Lauren Auchmuty to cut the deficit to 3-1.

But in the 56th minute Pirate Jasi Crawfis tallied on a Riley Eachus assist to put Bluffton back in front by three goals, 4-1. 

Neither team scored the final 24 minutes.

The Pirate girls directed 14 of their 22 shots on goal. The Bulldogs put four of their 10 shots on goal.

Pirate goalkeeper Julia Mehaffie made three saves, while Gwen Langhals stopped 10 shots in goal for CG. 

The Pirates host non-league local rival Cory-Rawson (3-8-1) Tuesday, Oct. 11. They then finish the regular season Oct. 13 at Upper Sandusky (5-3-1).