By: Colton Steiner

LEXINGTON, Ky. - For only the second time in program history, the Bluffton University men's soccer team competed in an HCAC semifinal contest as they traveled down to Lexington, Ky., to go head-to-head with the top-seeded Transylvania Pioneers. After dropping a 5-0 decision earlier in the season, the Beavers were looking for redemption and history, seeking to compete in the HCAC final for the first time ever. While neither team would break  the ice in the first frame, a pair of second-half goals from the Pioneers lifted the hosts over Bluffton as Transylvania came away with a 2-0 victory. Bluffton wrapped up its 2025 campaign with a record of 8-10-1, while Transylvania advanced to the HCAC Championship against Hanover, sitting at 14-2-2 on the year. 

The Beavers and Pioneers failed to find the back of the net in the opening stanza, but the hosts would hold a heavy 13-3 advantage in total shots, including a 5-2 edge in shots on frame. After going into the half knotted at 0-0, Transylvania finally broke the tie with a header off a corner kick in the 57th minute to go up 1-0. The Pioneers would ride that momentum and four minutes later, they took a 2-0 lead with 30 minutes left on the clock. The home defense was the difference as Bluffton only managed two shots in the second half, compared to 14 for Transylvania. 

Bluffton finished the contest on the wrong end of a 27-5 shot differential, with Transylvania holding a strong 12-3 advantage in shots on goal. Tallying two shots for the Beavers was William Clark (Mount Blanchard/Riverdale), with Alex Brown (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) and Leonardo Campos (Santiago, Chile/Campbellsville University) each recording a shot on goal. In the net for Bluffton was Zach Johnson (Middletown) who snagged nine saves in the contest. 

Continue to check the Bluffton Men's Soccer webpage over the coming weeks for updated record books and All-Heartland Conference selections!

-BEAVERS-