October 29, 2011

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's soccer lost and then won big on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. Hanover handed the Beavers a 4-1 setback, but Mount St. Joseph's 1-0 victory over Manchester assured Bluffton of its first Heartland Conference tournament berth. Bluffton slipped to 10-4-2 overall and 5-3-1 in the HCAC, while the Panthers clinched at least a share of first place in the conference at 8-1 and 14-2-1 overall.

PAIGE BYERS used an ERIN HANCOOK feed to put the Panthers on the board just 13:16 into the contest. Bluffton fought off the visitors for the remiander of half, trailing just 1-0 at the break.

Hanover made it 2-0 10 minutes into the second stanza when BLAINE BISHOP found the back of the net. Six minutes later, sophomore JESSICA RAMIREZ (Archbold) collected a pass from KOURTNEY LEWIS (Arlington/Riverdale) and cut the deficit in half.

TRICIA WALSH and HANNAH BARKER added late scores for the Panthers, making the final score 4-1 in favor of Hanover.

The visitors finished with a 14-4 edge in total shots, including 10-2 on frame. Hanover was called for four more fouls (14-10) and the Panthers forced eight more corner kicks (13-5) than their counterparts from Bluffton.

Sophomore AIMEE WHITMER (Tontogany/Otsego) led the Beavers with two shots, one on goal. Sophomore keeper MAGGIE ARMSTRONG (Vevay, Ind./Switzerland Cty.) tallied six saves in the loss.

Bluffton now moves into the Heartland Conference tournament and they will play at #1 seed Earlham on Wednesday, Nov. 2. The semi-final match is slated for 2 p.m.

-BEAVERS-