By Cort Reynolds
The Bluffton boys soccer team swamped visiting Old Fort 8-0 in Div. III sectional final play Saturday afternoon, October 23, at Steinmetz Field.
With the win, the top-seeded Pirates improved their record to 12-3-2. Bluffton was ranked ninth in the latest Div. III state poll.
Senior Jude Spallinger and Bryan Zimmerman each scored two goals to pace the blowout win over the 12th-seeded Stockaders.
Spallinger netted the first two goals at the one and four-minute marks.
Zimmerman made it 3-0 by finding the back of the net at the 5:57 mark. Kaden Basil extended the lead to 4-0 with a netter at the 7:11 juncture.
Justin Good made it 5-0 by tallying just 42 seconds later.
Theo Andreas scored at the 26:03 mark as Bluffton carried a 6-0 cushion to intermission.
Nolan Hoffman scored 4:18 into the second half, and Zimmerman tallied at the 47:14 mark to provide the final margin of eight.
In the district semifinals, Bluffton will face Cory-Rawson at Tiffin's Frost-Kalnow Stadium Wednesday evening, October 27.
C-R (8-6-3) defeated Ada 3-1 in their sectional second round match Saturday.
Van Buren (12-2-2) is the number two seed, and the Black Knights defeated Pemberville Eastwood 4-0 Saturday to advance to the district semis against Riverdale. Bluffton won at VB 3-1 Sept. 14.
Third seed Mansfield Christian was upset 2-1 by defending district champion Riverdale Saturday afternoon.
The Falcons improved to 7-7-4 with the win at MC (9-6-2).
The district final at Tiffin's Frost-Kalnow Stadium is Saturday, Oct. 30 at 11 a.m.
