Sept. 6, 2008

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's soccer team controlled possession during much of the contest against Huntington University, but the Foresters took advantage of their chances to upend the Beavers by a 3-2 count on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008. Huntington took a 2-1 lead at the break and matched Bluffton with one goal apiece in the second stanza in improving to 1-3 on the season. Bluffton dropped to 1-1 following the setback to the Foresters.

Less than 10 minutes into the contest, Brenda Bair found a streaking Bethany McGraw for a 1-0 Forester lead. The Beavers responded 12 minutes later when freshman goal keeper Katy Wisby (Lancaster/Bloom Carroll) collected a Huntington shot and boomed a punt across midfield to fellow freshman Kourtney Lewis (Arlington/Riverdale) who quickly delivered to knot the score at one apiece.

Not allowing Bluffton to take advantage of the momentum, Huntington's McGraw again got behind the Beavers' defense and hit paydirt for a 2-1 Forester lead with 20 minutes to play in the first half.

Stephanie Spitnale made the score 3-1 at the 56:30 mark before Kourtney Lewis used an Allison White (Lima/Shawnee) assist for her second goal of the contest and third of the season with just over 10 minutes to play in the contest. Huntington staved off Bluffton's attack late in the contest to claim its first victory of the season, 3-2.

Lewis and White both took four shots, including three on target and two scores by Lewis. Freshmen Alex Jess (Piqua/Piqua) and Catie White (Lima/Central Catholic) both finished with two shots each. Wisby made five stops and recorded her first assist of the season.

The Beavers forced nine corner kicks compared to none for the visitors. For the contest, Bluffton took 13 shots, one more than the Foresters.

Bluffton returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 9, when the Beavers travel to Heidelberg College. The match is slated to start at 7 p.m.

-BEAVERS-