By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
Sept. 6, 2008

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's soccer team lost in overtime against Huntington University on Saturday, September 6, 2008. After being ahead for the majority of the game, two Huntington goals in the last ten minutes of regulation forced an overtime session. Huntington's STEVEN MCKAY scored in the 95th minute to hand Bluffton (2-1) its first loss of the 2008 season.

Sophomore JACOB GRAHAM (Gomer/Elida) put Bluffton on top with the first goal of the match at the 20:39 mark thanks to an assist from junior DANIEL TINCH(Middletown/Madison). Just two minutes into the second half, Graham once again found the back of the net to give Bluffton a 2-0 advantage with his third goal of the season.

As the second half wore on, each team's intensity increased and the number of fouls called did as well. Huntington's McKay cut the deficit in half at the 81:02 mark to bring the Foresters within one goal. An unfortunate break on a ball that was bounding toward sophomore keeper BRIAN GOOD (Elida/Elida) forced sophomore NICK EVANS (Elida/Elida) to pick up a red card which resulted in a penalty kick. BRAD KUNZE capitalized on his free attempt to tie the score at 2-2 with 1:09 left in regulation.

Five minutes into overtime McKay scored the game-winning goal for the Foresters, ending the Beavers' hopes of opening the 2008 campaign 3-0, which has never been done in the history of Bluffton men's soccer. With the loss, the Beavers dropped to 2-1 while the Foresters improved to 1-2 on the season.

Bluffton placed 11 of its 19 shots on goal while Huntington only had eight shots on target. The Beavers forced seven corner kicks and limited the Foresters to just three. Brian Good ended the match with five saves while NATE FLATH (Wadsworth/Wadsworth) led Bluffton with five shots. Freshman JUSTIN RYERSON (Perrysburg/Perrysburg) added four shots, while juniors DERRICK SCOVANNER (Loveland/Cincinnati Hills) and DAN TINCH (Middletown/Madison) both chipped in with three shots.

Bluffton travels to Rochester College to battle the Warriors on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m.

-BEAVERS-