By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
October 4, 2007

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's soccer team fell to Defiance College by a 1-0 count on Wednesday, October 3, 2007. An early goal in the second half was the deciding factor as Defiance (3-7, 1-2 HCAC) picked up the win after 90 minutes of heated Heartland Conference competition.  

The Beavers pounded the net with 11 shots, two of which were header attempts from ELYSE BURCKHART (Telford, Pa./Souderton) and NICOLE FREY (Wauseon/Wauseon), during the first half.  Bluffton's closest attempt to score broke out at minute 23 when a shot from Burckhart kissed the crossbar. At the end of the half, the score remained deadlocked at zero.

Both teams opened the second half with early fouls. Defiance took the lead in minute 52 when a feed from SARAH JONES set up a goal by MICHELLE KAVANAGH in what proved to be the game-winner.

Throughout the remainder of the match, Bluffton maintained possession of the ball. The Beavers dominated the shot count 5-2 after the Yellow Jacket goal, but they could not find the back of the net. A header attempt by MARY CONRAD (Millersburg/West Holmes) kept Yellow Jackets' goalie ANDREA GALBRAITH on her toes. The final score after 90 minutes of intense action was 1-0 as Defiance claimed the victory.

The Beavers (1-7-1) put 18 shots on goal compared to 12 for the Yellow Jackets. Defiance also found itself on the wrong side of a lopsided 9-1 count for corner kicks. The home team was whistled for 11 infractions compared to only nine for the Jackets.

Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 6, when it travels to face Heartland Conference foe Franklin College. The match is slated to start at 3 p.m.

-BEAVERS-