BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's soccer team saved its best for last, dominating Anderson University in the HCAC Tournament, 4-1, on a rainy Thursday, April 8, 2021. Bluffton wrapped up its 2020-21 campaign with a 2-6-2 record (1-6-2 HCAC), while Anderson finished 1-8-1 overall and 1-7-1 in conference play.
Some of the credit for Bluffton's fast start needs to be doled out to senior Brendan Nicholl (Manitou Beach, Mich./Addison) who riled up the fans in the stands with his version of Ted Nugent's Stranglehold as the vociferous public address announcer bellowed out Bluffton's starters! It marked the second straight match that Nicholl tickled his electric guitar strings during the pre-game announcements!
Bluffton took a 1-0 lead in minute 15 when sophomore Maxwell Kennedy (Strongsville) deposited a penalty kick in the upper right corner for his second goal of the season. Four minutes later, junior Jacob Kiger (Groveport/St. Charles Prep) caught the Ravens napping when his free kick made it 2-0 less than 19 minutes into the contest. An Eli to Eli connection midway through the opening stanza put the good guys up 3-0 when Elijah Grieser (Wauseon/Pettisville) found Elijah Zimmerman (Archbold) for his first collegiate tally in minute 25!
The Ravens found the back of the net with nine minutes to play in the opening stanza, trimming their deficit to 3-1 at the break, but Kiger's second goal of the match in minute 62 made the final score 4-1 as Bluffton capped off its unusual season with a second victory over Anderson after handling the Ravens 3-1 at their place on March 13.
Kiger netted two goals in a match for the second time in his career. The four goals for Bluffton marked the most tallies by the men's soccer team since a 5-4 loss to Defiance on October 9, 2019, also the date of Kiger's other two-goal performance.
Grieser's assist pushed his season points total to eight thanks to four assists and two goals for the talented sophomore. He and Kiger both fired five shots in the dominating show put on by Coach Richardson's crew. Zimmerman also chipped in with three attempts. Senior Patrick Spillman (Anderson, IN/Frankton) and Grant Ingham (Lebanon) set up Kiger for his final tally of the match
Bluffton finished with a commanding 21-8 advantage in shots, including 9-5 on frame. Both teams were whistled for nine fouls. The Beavers forced four more corner kicks (8-4) and sophomore keeper Tanner Newport (Hamilton, Va./Loudoun Valley) fended off four Anderson shot attempts while notching his second victory of the season between the pipes.
Next up are the 2020-21 Heartland Conference post-season awards which are slated to be released next Monday, April 12. Check back next week for the Bluffton honorees.
-BEAVERS-