By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON – The Bluffton High School girls soccer team defeated visiting Spencerville 3-1 in the Northwest Conference opener at Steinmetz Field on Tuesday evening, August 26.

The Pirate girls improved to 1-1 overall with the win, and start out 1-0 in league play in their quest to regain the NWC title.

The Bearcat girls fell to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the NWC after the loss.

Bluffton’s Lilly Dagani scored in the very first minute on an assist by Aubrey Burkholder to give the Pirates an early lead.

Spencerville’s Grace Fledderjohann tied it 1-1 with a goal in the ninth minute, and the score stayed that way well past halftime.

Aubrey Burkholder broke the tie with a goal in the 66th minute from a Blair Utendorf assist.

Three minutes later, Mya McDougle tallied an insurance goal from a pass by Nora Matthews to extend the lead to 3-1. 

Bluffton fired 18 of its 33 shots on goal. Spencerville put all five of its shots on goal. 

Pirate goalkeeper Kynzie Ewing made four saves. Spencerville keeper Jenna Wannemacher was credited with 15 stops in goal.

Bluffton hosts WBL foe Celina (4-0) on Saturday, August 30 at 10 a.m. The Bulldogs edged Wapakoneta 1-0 Tuesday night.