RICHMOND, Ind. - The Bluffton University men's soccer team needed a tie at Earlham on Tuesday, Oct. 29, to guarantee the Beavers a berth in the Heartland Conference Tournament and a tie is what they got! Bluffton netted the equalizer with less than 20 minutes to play, earning a fourth straight trip to the HCAC tourney.

The visitors capped off the regular season with a 6-6-5 record, including a 3-4-2 mark in the HCAC. Earlham finished just one point behind the Beavers and the Quakers would have knocked Bluffton out of the tournament with a win on Tuesday afternoon.

Bluffton controlled the action most of the match, outshooting Earlham 8-3 in the first half and 22-8 for 90 minutes. The shot differential went out the window in minute 66 when Oscar Gomez found the back of the net for a 1-0 Quaker lead. However, senior Jackson Clark (Mount Blanchard/Riverdale) answered back with the equalizer at the 70:23 mark, giving Bluffton life with the point it needed to continue its season!

Earlham was whistled for four more fouls (10-6), while Bluffton forced one more corner kick (3-2). The visitors put seven more shots on frame (11-4).

Clark led the way with four shots, while JJ Meyer (Cincinnati/Oak Hills) and Marcelo Ortiz (Leon, Mexico) chipped in with three attempts apiece. Sophomore Zach Johnson (Middletown) turned away three Earlham shots while moving to 5-5-4 on the season.

Bluffton will make the trip down Interstate 75 to Lexington, Ky., for a first-round Heartland Conference tournament matchup with Transylvania University on Saturday, Nov. 2. Kickoff time is to be determined for the battle between the Beavers and Pioneers.

-BEAVERS-