BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Franklin College on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. Bluffton fell to 7-6 overall and 3-4 in the Heartland Conference, while Franklin improved to 5-8-1 and 3-3-1 in the HCAC.
Jacob Kiger (Groveport/St. Charles Prep) slid it off to fellow senior Dalton Taynor (Troy/Miami East) and Bluffton's leading scorer did the rest, putting the home team up 1-0 with his 11th goal of the season less than nine minutes into the contest! Elijah Grieser (Wauseon/Pettisville) filled up the back of the net in minute 33 as Bluffton went up 2-0 over the visiting Grizzlies.
Just seconds after Grieser's goal, Bluffton was whistled for a foul at the edge of the box and Angel Tapia chipped in the penalty kick, making it 2-1 at the break. Franklin scored early in period two and again in minute 76, taking down Bluffton by a 3-2 count on Wednesday afternoon.
Bluffton ripped twice as many shots as Franklin (22-11) and the home team put five more attempts on frame (13-8). The Beavers forced seven more corner kicks (11-4), while FC was called for one more foul (12-11).
Elijah Zimmerman (Archbold) paced the home team with six shots, while Taynor finished with four. Both of them put three on frame. Kiger added three shots for the Beavers. Angel Velasco-Urbina (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) wrapped up five saves in the loss.
Bluffton makes the long trek to Terre Haute, Ind., to play HCAC stalwart Rose-Hulman on Saturday, Oct. 23. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.
-BEAVERS-
