HANOVER, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's soccer team saw its storybook season come to an end on Wednesday, Nov. 3, but not before the Beavers put together the first Heartland Conference Tournament run in school history. Number 2 seed Hanover College moved into the HCAC championship match with a 4-2 victory over the visitors. Bluffton finished its fall slate with a 9-8 record that included a 4-5 mark in conference play. Hanover is still alive with a sterling 13-4-1 record.
Luke Eppler put the home team up 1-0 just 1:39 into the match and Joao Domenici made it 2-0 with seven minutes to play in the opening half. Freshman Angel Velasco-Urbina (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) turned away a Hanover penalty kick early in period two before Josh Hughes pushed the lead to 3-0 in minute 55.
Dalton Taynor (Troy/Miami East) gave Bluffton life when he used a feed from fellow senior Jacob Kiger (Groveport/St. Charles Prep) to pull Bluffton within striking distance at 3-1 with his team-best 13th goal of the season. Hanover answered right back, opening a 4-1 spread with 30 minutes to play. Andrew Ireland (Coshocton) connected with fellow freshman Jackson Clark (Mount Blanchard/Riverdale) for his first goal of the season with 17 minutes to play, but that was the end of the scoring as Hanover moved on with the 4-2 victory.
The Panthers put up 17 shots on Wednesday, compared to six for the Beavers. Both teams were whistled for nine fouls. Hanover forced one more corner kick (3-2).
Taynor, who leads the HCAC with 2.0 points per game, paced the Beavers with three shots, all on goal. Velasco-Urbina, the reigning HCAC Defensive Player of the Week, turned away seven Panther shots in the semi-final match.
The Bluffton men have much to be proud of following their first-ever Heartland Conference tournament berth, their first HCAC tournament win and the most shutouts (6) in a season! Congratulations on a great year and thank you to seniors Dalton Taynor, Jacob Kiger and Jackson Heffernan (Mount Vernon) for their leadership!
-BEAVERS-
