Bluffton routs Woodmore in boys soccer tournament

BLUFFTON – State runner-up a year ago, Bluffton looked every bit like a title contender once again on Saturday when the Pirates pounded Woodmore 9-0 in a Division III boys soccer sectional final. Jude Spallinger scored three goals and had an assist and Jonathan Schriner, a returning all-state player for Bluffton, had a goal and two assists. Simon Derstine and Ethan Oglesbee had a goal and an assist each, with Tayton Kleman, Nolan Hoffman and Conner Lee scoring as well. Luke Shephard had two assists and Josh Mehaffie one. Bluffton peppered Woodmore (4-10-2) keeper Jesse Lattea with 20 shots on goal, while limiting the Wildcats (4-10-2) to none. Bluffton scored four goals in the first 17 minutes of the match and cruised from there in punching its ticket to the Division III district semifinals to be played Wednesday at Tiffin Columbian High School. Bluffton, 15-0-2 and ranked No. 2 in the Division III state poll, will face Ada in Wednesday's 5 p.m. matchup. Ada defeated Mansfield Christian 3-1 in its sectional final on Saturday. Riverdale and Van Buren will clash in the Wednesday's second game at Tiffin Columbian, with the winners returning Saturday to decide the district champion and regional representative. VAN BUREN &emsp;&emsp;3 CORY-RAWSON &emsp;&emsp;2 VAN BUREN – Van Buren's 3-2 boys' soccer win over Cory-Rawson in Saturday's Division III sectional final was like a microcosm of the Black Knights' 2020 season as a whole. Down 2-0 at the half, Van Buren rallied behind goals by Jonah Frederick, Aiden Haley and Aiden Mowery to earn the win and a spot in Wednesday's district semifinal at Tiffin Columbian. That second-half comeback coincides with a second-half surge by the Knights, who started the 2020 season 0-6-0 but have won eight of their last 11 matches and will take an 8-8-1 record into district play. Van Buren outshot Cory-Rawson 12-3. But Matt White scored a goal off an assist from Zac Stoodt and Leo Miracle converted a penalty kick that put the Hornets up 2-0 at the half. Drew Frey made one save in goal for Van Buren. Clayton Skulina made nine saves for Cory-Rawson, which ends its season at 8-8-2. RIVERDALE &emsp;&emsp;6 WILLARD &emsp;&emsp;3 MOUNT BLANCHARD – Arian Cuevas was a one-man show for Willard's soccer team on Saturday. But Riverdale used its depth and overall balance – as well as a few mistakes by the Flashes – to bring the curtain down on their season, 6-3, in a Division III tournament matchup. Cuevas scored all three goals for Willard. Four Riverdale players found the back of net, though, and a couple of own-goal scores by Willard turned what might have been a one-goal game into a double-up victory. Mitch O'Flaherty, Drew Frey, Brayden Courtney and Jackson Clark accounted for Riverdale's goals. Nolan Courtney and Brady Wright had assists for the Falcons (13-2-2), who will face Van Buren on Wednesday in the Division III district semifinals at Tiffin Columbian High School. Riverdale outshot Willard (4-9-1) 15-4. Mike Hough made one save in goal. UF teams fifth TIFFIN – The University of Findlay men's and women's cross teams both finished fifth in the 2020 Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship held Saturday in Tiffin. Gabrielle Lawrence (1st-team) and Baylee Hack (2nd-team) led the UF women's team and both earned first-team all GMAC honors, Lawrence by finishing fourth in the race in a time of 21:54.3 and Hack by placing 14th (22:31.5). Gabriel Foster and Noah Fisher both earned second-team all-league honors for UF's men's team. Foster finished 14th with a time of 25:57.6; Fisher was 15th in 25:58.4. LOCAL SPORTS Monday's Schedule Volleyball DIVISION III TOURNAMENT AT OTTAWA-GLANDORF Ottawa-Glandorf vs. Parkway, 5 Liberty-Benton vs. Coldwater, 7:30 Prep Girls Soccer DIVISION I TOURNAMENT AT SPRINGFIELD Findlay vs. Perrysburg, 7:15