By: Colton Steiner

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton Beavers Rocket League squad would go up against the Southern Arkansas Muleriders in a game that was closer than what the final score read, as the Muleriders would come out with a 3-0 sweep on the Beavers. With the loss, Bluffton drops to 1-3 on the semester as they just pass the midway point of the spring season. 

The Beavers would fall behind early in round one 1-0, but a goal from Braxton Fruchey (Lima, Ohio / Homeschooled) would even up the battle at 1-1 with 2:13 left on the clock. After neither team was able to score in regulation, they would play an overtime period, where Southern Arkansas would find the back of the net just 12 seconds into the extra time, taking a 1-0 lead in the match. Following a mid-match update that delayed competition, the two teams would go right back at it, with Bluffton scoring right after the gate following a goal from Andrew Phillips (Westfield, IN / Westfield) just seven seconds in. While the Beavers were able to hold off the Muleriders for most of the match, a goal with 1:32 left evened up the game at 1-1 as the teams would wind up in another extra time round. Botht eams would battle, but Southern Arkansas would break the scoreless overtime stretch with a goal 2:37 into overtime. Down 2-0 in the contest, the Beavers found themselves down 2-0 in round three less than a minute into play, but following back-to-back scores from Braxton Fruchey the game would be tied up with 4:05 left to play. The Muleriders would retake the lead with 3:06, but after Fruchey found the back of the net for the third time of the round, making the game tied at three a piece. with just over two minutes to play. Southern Arkansas would keep the aggressive mentality and with 1:25 remaining in the round, they would hit a go-ahead score to take a 4-3 advantage. After the Beavers were unable to score in regulation, the Muleriders would seal the 3-0 sweep over Bluffton. 

Heading into next week, the Beavers will look ahead as they get set to play Clarke University on Tuesday, Mar. 17 at 7 p.m. and then Rochester Insitute of Technology at a date that is to be determined. You can tune into all of the Bluffton Esports action on Boxcast, Twitch, and YouTube.

-Beavers-