October 20, 2009

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's soccer team snapped a five-game skid with a 1-0 road shutout at Manchester College on Tuesday, October 20, 2009. A second half Bluffton score moved the Beavers to 4-10-1 overall (2-4 Heartland Conference) on the season with just two HCAC matches left in 2009. The Spartans dipped to 3-12 and 2-4 in the conference.

Although the teams played to a scoreless tie through the first 45 minutes, fireworks on the field resulted in one caution and three red cards, two going against the visitors.

The aggressive play carried over into period two as a total of 19 fouls were called in the second half, along with three yellow cards on the Spartans and one on Bluffton. The lone goal of the contest came just five minutes into the final stanza when junior NOLAN PHELPS (Monroe/Lemon-Monroe) tickled the back of the net for his second score of the season.

Phelps, JACOB GRAHAM (Gomer/Elida) and senior ROBERT JOHNSON (Columbus/Marion-Franklin) all fired two shots in the contest, with Phelps collecting the game winner. Junior keeper BRIAN GOOD (Elida) came up with three saves in his second shutout of the season.

Bluffton finished with a slight 11-10 advantage in shots. The Beavers were whistled for 16 fouls, six more than their counterparts. The visitors forced six corner kicks, one more than Manchester managed.

The Beavers jump back into conference action with a trip to Rose-Hulman on Saturdau, Oct. 24, 2009. The contest is slated for 2 p.m.

-BEAVERS-