By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - Visiting Ada lost 7-2 at local rival Bluffton in Northwest Conference girls soccer play Thursday night.
The Lady Bulldogs fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the NWC after the defeat, while Bluffton improved to 1-2-1 and 1-0 in league play with their first win.
"We played much better as a team, but were beaten by a better opponent," said Ada head coach Doug Poling. "They scored two before we were able to get anything going."
Pirate Laykin Garmatter tallied a first half hat trick to pace the victors.
Ada trailed 2-0 early before Bulldog Bella East's corner kick deflected off a Pirate defender into the net.
Ada's Ella Poling then tied it 2-2 when she took a crossing pass from Timber Blankenship right in front of the Pirate net and scored.
Yet Bluffton capitalized on a pair of through balls to score twice and take a 4-2 lead into intermission.
Bluffton controlled half two with three goals to provide the final margin. "The second half was all Bluffton," said Poling.
Pirate Kayla White found the back of the net in the fifth and 56th minutes. Garmatter scored in the ninth, 16th and 18th minutes.
Lauren Rhodes scored in the 35th minute and Reagan Mittendorf added the final Pirate goal in the 62nd minute.
Ada put four of its seven shots on goal, while Bluffton put 17 of its 25 shots on goal.
Bulldog keeper Sidney Gossard made 14 saves while the Pirates made two saves.
Up next, Ada hosts Paulding (0-4, 0-1 NWC) Thursday, September 5 at 5 p.m.
Bluffton hosts NWC foe Columbus Grove (0-2) Tuesday, Sept. 3.
