BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University women's soccer team is ready to get back on the field and work toward its second Heartland Conference tournament berth in three seasons when the Beavers kick off the 2024 campaign. Bluffton was 3-13-3 last season after going 5-11-1 with a 4-5 mark in the Heartland Conference during Coach Hammon's first year with the Beavers.
Speed merchant Nina McGinn is gone following graduation, but two of the top three leading scorers from 2023 are back this season. And McGinn will be sharing her secrets as the first-year graduate assistant this fall! Senior Alyssa Kester (Centerville) hit paydirt six times and she added two assists for a total of 14 points. Graduate student Katelyn Burden (Sidney) added eight points, which included a penalty kick for the Beavers. She has a whopping 48 starts and 20 points on her career resume.
Senior Rilynn Kaufmann (Goshen, Ind./Bethany Christian) tapped in a pair of tallies while sophomore Mya Vernon (Toledo/Central Catholic) doled out a couple assists as a freshman. Brittney Ramirez (Archbold) and Karley Ramirez (Archbold) are both back after serving up one assist apiece in 2023. In addition to another year on the pitch, it also means more meals from the Ramirez Family food truck!
Between the pipes will be three-year starter Brielle Collier (Anna) who has amassed 321 saves while playing in 48 matches. Collier is 2nd all-time with 5.5 shutouts and 13 career victories! She's also 13th all-time for all positions with over 4,000 minutes played.
Junior Kelsie Gladieux (Northwood/Lake) and sophomore Jenn Specht (Fairfield) both saw action in all 17 matches last season with 16 starts for Gladieux and a dozen for Specht. Danielle Wolfe (Logan) had 35 career starts before an injury cut her season short in match number three last season. Her presence in the back will give a boost to the Beavers in 2024.
Bluffton opens at Olivet on Saturday, Aug. 31, before the home lidlifter with St. Mary's on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The Beavers travel to long-time rival Defiance College on Monday, Sept. 9, to play a non-conference match with the Yellow Jackets. Rose-Hulman makes the long trip to Allen County for the Heartland Conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 28. The regular season comes to a close when Earlham travels to the Sears Complex on Wendesday, Oct. 30.
-BEAVERS-