Anderson Takes Down Bluffton in Season Finale
The Anderson University men's soccer team took down Bluffton University with a 2-1 victory during Saturday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) matchup in Bluffton, Ohio.
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Bluffton (6-13, 1-8) took an early lead after Jacob Kiger netted a goal assisted by Dalton Taynor, but the Ravens (7-10-2, 4-4-1) came from behind for the win.
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"I am so proud of the boys to keep their head up after an early goal against," Coach Scott Fridley said.
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Chase Litzke (Plain City, Ohio/Fairbanks) delivered the equalizer in the 36th minute for Anderson with Sean Cain (Monroe, Ohio/Monroe) and Daniel Collins (Jamestown, Ind./Western Boone) on the assists.
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The Ravens broke the tie in the 78th minute and Regan Frost (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown) contributed a goal. Sam Rowlison (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) and Collins each earned assists. Collins finished with two assists on the day.
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Anderson controlled the possession despite playing in wet weather conditions. The Beavers still presented a challenge for the Ravens.
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"I felt like we had good possession on a sloppy field. Bluffton's coach has done a nice job of getting his team organized. They were a tough out. Kudos to their work ethic."
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Collins and Frost led the Ravens with five shots apiece. R.J. Macomber (Marion, Ind./Marion) and Nick Martin (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) tallied four shots each. Derek Thorpe (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) provided three shots. Cain, Aiden Lutterman and Litzke turned in two shots apiece while Evan Baurle (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) and Keegan Sweeney (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) added shots.
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Frost paced the Ravens with three shots on goal. Macomber, Collins, Rowlison and Litzke produced two shots on target apiece while Martin and Baurle each registered shots.
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Caleb Oliver (Marion, Ind./Marion) saved three of the four shots he faced. Martin led the Ravens with five steals. Noah Labelle and Brayden Humbert (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) shared the team lead of three interceptions.
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The Ravens outshot the Beavers 32-17 and held a 13-4 advantage in shots on goal.
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Seniors Noah Keller (Mount Vernon, Ind./Mount Vernon), Race Williams (Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian), Thorpe, Cain, Martin, Collins, Sweeney and Braden Crowell (Kokomo, Ind./Western) each wrapped up their soccer careers at Anderson.
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"We will miss them. They are close to my heart. They will do great things in the world. Hopefully, we can take this forward into the new year with some momentum."
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