Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Beavers score early and often in 9-1 victory over Pikeville

Posted: Oct 06, 2008

By: Brandy Bidlack, sports information assistant
October 6, 2008

BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's soccer team scored early and often in a dominating 9-1 victory over Pikeville College on Monday, October 6, 2008. Bluffton improved to 5-5-1 on the season while Pikeville remains winless with a record of 0-7-2.

Less than two minutes into the contest, NATE FLATH (Wadsworth/Wadsworth) found the back of the net to give Bluffton a lead that the Beavers would never relinquish. At the 5:30 mark, an own goal made it 2-0 before a Flath penalty kick in minute 11 allowed Bluffton to go up 3-0.

To open the second half, a cross from LOUIE CANCASCI (Twinsburg/Twinsburg) connected with JACOB GRAHAM (Gomer/Elida) for a header and his eighth goal of the season at the 53:22 mark. Two minutes later, NOLAN PHELPS (Monroe/Lemon-Monroe) scorched the back of the net with another penalty kick.

STEVEN OROZCO responded with a goal for Pikeville, thanks to an assist from teammate ADAM JOHNSON just over a minute after the Phelps penalty shot. Bluffton answered two minutes later with a goal from STEVE RUCKI (Killbuck/West Holmes) off a slick feed from Flath. At the 59:48 mark, Rucki returned the favor when his pass found Flath who completed the hat trick with his eighth score of the season, upping the Bluffton advantage to 7-1.

An assist from SETH HERTENSTEIN (St. Marys/Memorial) resulted in another Rucki goal at the 65:12 mark. With 10 minutes left in the match, Hertenstein connected with RYAN NOLLEN(Lebanon/Lebanon) to give the Beavers their ninth and final goal of the contest.

Nate Flath paced the Beavers with eight shots, all on target, and an assist. ANDREW JOHNSON (Vienna, WV/Parkersburg) and Louie Cancasci had four and three shots, respectively, while freshman Seth Hertenstein led Bluffton with his first two assists of the season. Freshman keeper DAN SAVILLE (Toledo/Central Catholic) improved to 2-1 while limiting Pikeville to just one goal.

Bluffton fired 29 shots while holding Pikeville to only three. The Beavers were whistled for 18 infractions, five more than the visitors. The Bears collected 14 saves and forced five corner kicks, compared to just two for the Beavers. Pikeville was issued two yellow cards and Bluffton received one.

Bluffton returns to action on Saturday, October 11, when the Beavers host HCAC rival Rose-Hulman. Kick-off is slated for 1 p.m.

-BEAVERS-