By Cort Reynolds / Photo Bluffton Pirates Facebook

COLUMBUS GROVE__The Bluffton High School girls soccer team clinched at least a share of their second straight Northwest Conference title with a 2-2 tie in their showdown at fellow-league unbeaten Columbus Grove on Monday, Oct. 5.

Coach Brendon Matthews posted, “Came back from being down two goals in the process and showed some great character.”

All four goals were scored in the first half as the Pirates rallied from a 2-0 deficit on the road to earn a tie.

The Pirate girls finished 5-0-1 in NWC play after the knot. They are 6-7-1 overall.

CG is 4-0-1 in the NWC with one league game left vs. last-place Crestview. The Bulldogs are 8-3-1 in all games.

Grove’s Ashtyn Halker tallied a goal in the 21st minute to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.

Teammate Liv Mayberry netted a goal in the 23rd minute to double the Grove lead to 2-0.

But Pirate Samantha Rueller scored in the 35th minute on a penalty kick for Bluffton to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Phoebe Edwards-Leeper then netted the tying Pirate score on an assist by Addilyn Shoemaker two minutes before halftime.

Neither team scored in a defensive second half to end in a tie.

Pirate keeper Maelee Miller made three saves in goal, including a key stop on a CG penalty kick.

The Grove keeper was credited with four saves. 

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Bluffton hosts tough WBL foe St. Marys (7-3-2) Thursday in a non-league match.