September 26, 2007

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio - For the second consecutive day a Bluffton University soccer team took almost twice the shots of its opponent only to come away with a 1-1 tie. The Beavers (1-6-1) ripped 17 shots, including eight on target, compared to nine for Shawnee State (4-4-1) as the Bluffton men's soccer team picked up the tie on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007. The match was called 10 seconds into overtime when lightning was spotted.

The contest appeared destined to be a high-scoring affair when STEVEN COX took a feed from DREW SAMPSON only 4:11 in and buried his 13th goal of the season.

Less than three minutes later, junior NATE FLATH (Wadsworth/Wadsworth) found the back of the net to knot the score at one on his fifth goal this year.

The offensive outburst was short lived, however, as the only fireworks after that point were the streaks of lightning that halted the contest just after the players took the field to open the first overtime period.

The Beavers had their chances in the second frame as Bluffton outshot the home team 11-6, including five shots on goal. Bluffton forced seven corner kicks compared to five for Shawnee State, and the Beavers were whistled for 12 infractions, four less than Shawnee State.

Flath and freshman JACOB GRAHAM (Gomer/Elida) both paced the Beavers with five shots while freshman NOLAN PHELPS (Monroe/Lemon-Monroe) and sophomore DAN TINCH(Middletown/Madison) chipped in with two shots apiece.

The Beavers return to action on Saturday, Sept. 29, when they host Hanover College in a Heartland Conference showdown. The match is slated to start at 11 a.m.

-BEAVERS-