October 21, 2009

NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Bluffton University women's soccer team used an outstanding defensive effort to give a Beaver soccer team its second 1-0 shutout at Manchester in as many days. With the victory, Bluffton improved to 7-8 on the season and 1-5 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Spartans dropped to 2-11-1 overall and 2-4 in the HCAC.

Bluffton sophomore standout KOURTNEY LEWIS (Arlington/Riverdale) followed her own rocket shot off the crossbar with a rebound that glanced off the inside of the post before coming to rest in the opposite end of the net for the lone score of the contest. Lewis' goal with 11 minutes to play in the opening stanza, her team-high eighth of the season, held up as the defense went toe-to-toe with an aggressive Manchester squad that took care of the Beavers 6-0 in their last meeting at North Manchester.

Both teams fired 11 shots in the contest, including six on frame. The Beavers forced five corner kicks, three more than the home team. Manchester was whistled for five fouls, while Bluffton committed just three infractions.

Freshman keeper MOLLY MARTIN (Brookville) pitched her second and the team's third shutout of the season, coming up with six saves in the victory. Lewis led the Bluffton offense with four shots, while MADDIE MOORE (Linn Grove, Ind./South Adams) and KATY WISBY(Lancaster/Bloom-Carroll) each chipped in with three.

The Bluffton women will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, when they travel to Terre Haute, Indiana. The contest against Rose-Hulman is slated to start at 12 p.m.

-BEAVERS-