By: Colton Steiner
BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton Beavers men's soccer squad would host the Asbury Eagles on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The Beavers had many chances, but were unable to finish their opportunities as they would fall to the Eagles in a final score of 2-0. With the loss, Bluffton drops to 1-2 on the season while Asbury improves to 2-1 overall.
The first 45 minutes would be dead even, with neither team letting up as they went into the break tied 0-0. In the first half, both teams would have nine shots on goal with the Beavers being able to tally nine saves. As the second half started, it would take just under fifteen minutes to end the scoring drought as a Asbury was able to find the back of the net in the 58th minute to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Bluffton would have several chances to score with a few goals hitting the post or just missing the goal, but in the 87th minute the Eages would take advantage of a free keep from behind the eighteen that would ricochet off the post and into the Beaver goal. Trailing 2-0, the Beavers were unable to get a goal on the board as time would tick off the clock as Bluffton would come away with the loss.
With two shots on goals a piece, Alex Brown (Delaware, Ohio / Buckeye Valley) and William Clark (Mount Blanchard, Ohio / Riverdale) led the Beavers on the offensive side of the ball with six other Beavers tallying a shot on goal in the contest. In the box for Bluffton, Zach Johnson (Middletown) would snag eight saves on the day in 90 minutes of action. As a team, the Beavers outshot the Eages 23-14, but would be tied for shots on frame with a mark of 10-10. Despite allowing two goals in the second half, the home team had their opportunities, having a 14-5 edge in total shots in the second half.
Bluffton will put this loss behind them as they have back-to-back road games with a trip to Trine on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. and then head to Alma on Saturday, Sept. 13 with a start time at 4 p.m.
- Beavers -
