BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's soccer team got on the board quickly and scored two more times in the second half for a stunning 3-1 victory over HCAC heavyweight Transylvania on a cloudy Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Bluffton improved to 5-3 overall as it opened Heartland Conference play with a win. The Beavers came into Wednesday afternoon with just two wins over the Pioneers in 22 meetings. However, it marked the second victory in the past three years. Bluffton also hit paydirt three times against a school that it had scored just eight goals against in the 22 previous matchups.
Junior Benjamin Davidson (Greenville) connected with Elijah Zimmerman (Archbold) less than two minutes after the opening whistle, putting Bluffton up 1-0 over the visitors from Kentucky. Andrew Ballard answered back with the equalizer four minutes later and that's where it stood when the two teams headed to the break.
It was still 1-1 when Zimmerman returned the favor to Davidson who chipped it over the keeper with what turned out to be the game winner in minute 67! A foul in the box led to a Bluffton penalty kick and Zimmerman deposited it in the back of the net for his third PK of the year and team-leading sixth goal as the Beavers finished off the 3-1 victory.
Transy had a slim 13-12 edge in shots, but the home team put five more on frame (8-3). The Pioneers were whistled for four more fouls (17-13), but they forced 10 of the 12 corner kicks on Wednesday afternoon.
Zimmerman and Davidson both put all three of their shot attempts on target. Junior Angel Velasco-Urbina (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) picked up two saves for the victors.
Bluffton will head to Anderson University for another big conference match on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. following the women's matchup with the Ravens.
-BEAVERS-
