By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON __ The Bluffton High School girls soccer team fell behind early but came back to beat visiting non-conference foe Botkins 3-2 Thursday night, September 19, at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirate record improved to 7-2-1 overall after the home victory.

The Trojan girls fell to 3-5-1 with the road defeat.

Trojan DeeDee Pitts scored the game’s first goal in the seventh minute.

Bluffton’s Mya McDougle tied it 1-1 with an unassisted goal in the 36th minute.

Aubrey Burkholder put the Pirate girls on top 2-1 with a goal in the first minute of the second half. Jenna Downey assisted on the score.

McDougle then netted her second goal six minutes later off a Burkholder assist to stretch the lead to 3-1.

Pitts found the back of the net again in the 71st minute to inch Botkins within 3-2. But the Pirate defense kept the Trojans from scoring the equalizer in the final nine minutes to preserve the win.

Bluffton directed eight of their 17 shots on goal. Botkins put six of its 12 shots on goal.

Pirate goalkeeper Kynzie Ewing made four saves, while Trojan keeper Delaney Manger was credited with five stops in goal.

After a week off from match play, first-place Bluffton (4-0 Northwest Conference) will host Delphos Jefferson (4-6, 1-1 NWC) Thursday, Sept. 26 in a league bout.

Bluffton is a half-game ahead of Columbus Grove (8-0-1, 3-0 NWC) atop the NWC standings. The Pirates visit Grove Sept. 30 in a game likely to decide the league champion, barring a tie.