MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Oct. 15, 2014) â€" The first shutout of the year could not have come at a worse time for Milligan College's men's soccer team. After earning scoring opportunity after scoring opportunity through the first 45 minutes, the tables turned in the second half, and Point University struck twice to send the Buffaloes home with a 2-0 loss in Appalachian Athletic Conference action.
 
Milligan (4-6-2, 2-4 AAC) had all the chances in the first half and looked well on its way to a second straight victory but never could find the back of the net in the first half. Instead, the Buffaloes lost steam and surrendered two second-half goals to a Point (3-7-1, 1-4 AAC) team that was well overdue for a league win.
 
"This was really a tough one to take," Head Coach Adam Laney said. "I felt like we were in total control of the game in the first half, but just didn't score. Then we came out in the second half a little flat, and they took the momentum."
 
The 2-0 decision marked the first time Milligan was held scoreless this year and the first match not to be decided by a single goal since the season opener in August.
 
Milligan's first big chance came midway through the first half when, following a corner kick, Lucas Maia's shot ricocheted off the near post before Calvin Mangunda took a shot from close range that required a diving save from Point goalkeeper Tony Olvera.
 
Later in the first half, Tatenda Tanyanyiwa had the would-be go-ahead goal parried over the top of the crossbar on another one that sent Olvera to the ground. The Point goalkeeper still wasn't finished as he denied yet another Milligan chance, batting away a Jonathan Wilson crossing pass that had floated into the box late in the first half.
 
Olvera's offense finally gave his team the lead in the second half on a goal by Phil Pressgrove (48'). Pressgrove doubled the lead 35 minutes later on a well-struck shot from the left side that he buried into the side netting.
 
Senior Dan Ball made six saves in the losing effort, one of which came on a breakaway with roughly 15 minutes left that kept the score 1-0.
 
The toughest part of Milligan's schedule is up next as the Buffaloes face No. 18 Reinhardt University (9-1-1, 5-1-1 AAC) on Saturday, Oct. 18 and No. 20 Union College (12-1, 5-1 AAC) the following Wednesday, Oct. 22. Both games will be at home on Anglin Field.