October 28, 2006

CINCINNATI, Ohio - Despite giving up 20 shots on goal, the Beavers were less than one minute from overtime when Mount St. Joseph knocked in the game-winner for a 2-1 victory on Saturday, October 28, 2006. With the loss, Bluffton fell to 3-14 and 1-7 in the Heartland Conference while the Lions improved to 11-7 overall and 7-1 in the HCAC.

The Mount jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the eighth minute when SANDY RACK set up KATIE HENLEIN for her 14th goal of the season. Although Bluffton spent the remainder of the half on the defensive, Mount St. Joseph was unable to capitalize and the Beavers went to the break down by only a single goal.

Throughout the second half the Lions continued to pound away at the Beaver defense, but they could not get the ball past junior goalkeeper ASHLEY BLOOM (Tiffin/Calvert). Finally with just over five minutes to play, ALLISON WHITE (Lima/Shawnee) took a pass from JESSICA GOOD(Lima/Elida) and hit paydirt, knotting the game at one in minute 85.

With the game winding down and the Beavers looking forward to overtime against one of the HCAC's best squads, SARAH THAXTON, who had just re-entered following the White score, used a pass from BETH SCHUERMANN to net her third goal of the year and game-winner with less than a minute on the game clock.

The Mount took 41 shots in the contest, including 20 shots on goal, compared to only two for the Beavers, both of which were on target. Mount St. Joseph forced 11 corner kicks and did not allow a single corner kick by the Beavers. Bluffton picked up seven fouls while the Mount was whistled for only two infractions.

White and AMY DAHL (Perrysville/Loudonville) took the Beavers' only shots and Bloom finished the contest with a whopping 18 saves.

The loss to the Lions brings Bluffton's 2006 season to a close as only the top four finishers during the regular season qualify for the Heartland Conference tournament which opens next week.