October 23, 2011
BLUFFTON, Ohio - Rose-Hulman needed just 1:43 to snap Bluffton University's shutout streak at 523:31 minutes on a breezy Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011. The Beaver defense recovered and held RHIT in check the rest of the way, forging a 1-1 tie after two overtimes and 110:00 minutes of action. Bluffton kept alive its hopes for a Heartland Conference tournament berth, moving to 9-3-2 overall and 4-2-1 in the HCAC. The Engineers are now 5-10-1 on the season and 1-5-1 in the conference with one week of regular season competition left.
NICKY WHEELER, who paced the Rose offense with six shots on the afternoon, took a feed from RACHEL JOHNSTONE and buried it from outside the top of the box just 1:43 into the match as the Beavers saw their string of five consecutive shutouts come to an end. Although the visitors had the wind at their backs, the Engineers were unable to take advantage as they took their 1-0 lead into the break.
The Beavers came out firing in the second half and they controlled the action for much of the period. With sophomore AIMEE WHITMER (Tontogany/Otsego) moving into the midfield, Bluffton was able to post a commanding 18-3 advantage in shots in the second stanza. Junior standout MADDIE MOORE (Linn Grove, Ind./South Adams) connected with freshman AMANDA HUNSBERGER (Shipshewana, Ind./Westview) who knotted the match at the 77:34 mark.
Both squads had their chances in the extra sessions, with Rose even hitting the post late in the match, but after 110:00 minutes the final score was still 1-1.
The home team racked up 28 shots in the match (19 on frame), compared to 21 (15 on frame) for the Engineers. The Beavers were whistled for three more fouls (16-13), while Rose tallied one more corner kick (4-3).
Freshman TAYLOR FULTZ (Camden/Preble Shawnee) led the Beavers with eight shots, four on target. Aimee Whitmer, KOURTNEY LEWIS (Arlington/Riverdale) and Amanda Hunsberger all chipped in with three attempts. All of Hunsberger's shots were on frame, while Whitmer and Lewis both put two on goal.
The Beavers will now get ready to face long-time rival Defiance College on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The match is slated to start at 2 p.m. and it is the first contest of a women's and men's doubleheader with the Yellow Jackets at Defiance.
-BEAVERS-