NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – A successful strike off the foot of sophomore midfielder Elena White (Greentown, Ind.) was nearly enough for Manchester University in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference action Wednesday, Oct. 14.

White's second goal of the season, off a pass from junior midfielder Jessica Sanchez (Fort Wayne, Ind.), found the back of the Bluffton University net in the seventh minute. From that point, MU's offense managed to control the ball, while the defense kept the visitors off the scoreboard until the final seven minutes.

In that span, the Beavers (6-7 overall, 2-2 HCAC) got a pair of shot on goal attempts into the home net to take a 2-1 lead with just over two minutes to go. MU, dipping to 3-8-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference, did get some chances in the waning moments but couldn't send the match into an extra session.

The trio of White, freshman midfielder/forward Maranda Birmingham (Kouts, Ind.) and senior forward Brandy Crouse topped the Black and Gold's shot chart. Birmingham closed the 90 minutes with seven, four of which were on goal, while White tallied four, three of which were on frame as part of her goal resume, and Crouse ended with three, two of which were on goal.

The Spartans resume a home and away week with a trip to Rose-Hulman Saturday, Oct. 17. Kickoff is 1 p.m.

NOTE: Freshman goalkeeper Caroline Smith (Mason, Ohio) forged two saves against four BU shot on goal attempts. Her season total of 62 ranks fifth on the conference statistics.