October 11, 2006

BLUFFTON, Ohio - In a game that was delayed 30 minutes due to lightning, the Manchester Spartans improved to 8-4, 2-2 in the Heartland Conference thanks to three goals late in the game. Both teams struggled to find calculated shots due to the soggy field conditions as the Beavers (1-11, 1-4 HCAC) and Spartans were both scoreless at the break.

With just over 25 minutes to play in the second half, STACEY JERKE took a feed from ERIN MCCOMAS and found the back left corner of the net to give Manchester the first score in the game. Less than nine minutes later, Jerke returned the favor to ALICIA KREUCKEBERG who put the Spartans on top, 2-0, with 17 minutes to play.

MIRANDA FORD got past the Beaver defense in the 85th minute and hit paydirt when she launched Manchester's third and final score of the game past goalkeeper ASHLEY BLOOM(Tiffin/Calvert) who was kept busy by the Spartan attackers throughout much of the second half after the Beavers controlled the play during the first stanza.

Because of the wet field, Bluffton was limited to only four shots for the game, three of which were on goal. Manchester countered with nine shots, eight of them being on target. Miranda Ford fired six shots in the contest for game-high honors. The Beavers were whistled for 12 fouls compared to only four against Manchester.

JESSICA GOOD (Lima/Elida) took two shots while Bloom picked up five saves in the match.

Bluffton travels to Anderson University on Saturday, Oct. 14 to meet the Ravens. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.