By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON__The Bluffton High School girls soccer team rallied to beat visiting Liberty Center 2-1 in a non-league match on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Steinmetz Field.

The Pirate girls improved to 7-8-1 after the victory.

Liberty Center’s Tenley Kline netted the first goal in the 27th minute.

Bluffton’s Clara Brauen scored to tie it 1-1 in the 34th minute on an assist by Addilyn Shoemaker. The game was tied 1-1 at halftime.

Pirate Kinzi Koogler tallied the game-winner in the 68th minute from Nora Matthews.

Bluffton put six of its 17 shots on goal. LC directed eight of its 13 shots on frame. 

Bluffton keeper Maelee Miller made seven saves. Maddie Sattler stopped four shots in goal for Liberty Center. 

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The Pirates play WBL leader Ottawa-Glandorf (9-4-3) Thursday in the regular season finale. O-G (6-0-2 WBL) clinched at least a share of its fifth straight league title with a 4-0 win over Shawnee Tuesday.

Bluffton was seeded fourth in the Div. IV district drawing held Sunday.  The Pirates host seventh-seed local rival Allen East (2-10-4) Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Steinmetz Field in the first round.

Undefeated Miller City (15-0-1) is the top seed in the strong seven-team bracket. MC will play the Bluffton vs. Allen East victor on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. on the Pirate home pitch of Steinmetz Field in the district semis.

Ada was seeded second. The Bulldogs (12-2-2) will host Kalida (3-7-4) in the sectional finals Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. 

The winner advances to take on the survivor between third seed Columbus Grove (8-3-2) and fifth seed Continental (9-4-2) in the district semifinals at Bluffton on Monday, Oct. 26 at Bluffton.

The district final is set for Thursday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at Steinmetz Field.