By Cort Reynolds

DELPHOS__The visiting Bluffton High School girls soccer team jumped ahead early and shut out Delphos Jefferson 4-0 in a Northwest Conference match at Stadium Park on Thursday, September 25.

With the lopsided win, the Pirate girls stayed undefeated and first in the NWC standings at 5-0. Bluffton improved to 6-7 overall after the victory.

The Wildcats fell to 5-7 overall and 1-2 in NWC play after the loss.

Bluffton’s Keyrsten Kleman scored in the second minute off a Mya McDougle assist, and the Pirates were never headed.

Aubrey Burkholder doubled the lead to 2-0 by scoring in the eighth minute via an assist from Blair Utendorf.

The score remained 2-0 into halftime.

Samantha Rueller extended the margin to 3-0 with a goal in the 58th minute off a pass from Phoebe Edwards-Leeper.

Utendorf netted the fourth goal in the 69th minute from Burkholder. 

Bluffton fired 16 of their 21 shots on goal. Delphos Jefferson put three of their mere six shots on target.

Pirate keeper Kynzie Ewing came up with three saves to post the clean sheet. Delphos Jeff keeper Sydnee Bayman was credited with 12 stops.

The Pirate girls host defending champion Columbus Grove (8-1-2, 4-0 NWC) in a league finale showdown on Tuesday, Sept. 30, a rivalry match which will determine the NWC champion. 

Bluffton and Grove’s closest league competitors (3-2 Spencerville and 2-2 Crestview) already have two losses.

The two traditional powers have combined to win the last five league titles, with the Pirates taking three of the five. CG won it last year.