JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 18, 2014) â€" In a defensive showdown, the Milligan College men's soccer team came up just short in a heartbreaking loss, falling to No. 18 Reinhardt University at Science Hill High School Saturday evening, 1-0.
 
Milligan (4-7-2, 2-5 AAC) battled valiantly against the nationally-ranked Eagles (10-1-1, 6-1-1 AAC), but the Buffaloes were unable to find the back of the net versus the Eagle defense.
 
"I felt like this was a really good game and fun to watch," Head Coach Adam Laney said. "We showed what we're capable of tonight against a very good team, but the challenge is to reproduce that same game against every opponent. It hurts to lose, but to play well, we can be proud of that."
 
The first half proved to be a defensive struggle, with each team only making four shots during the entire half. However, the pressure stayed on the Buffs as Reinhardt took seven of its eight total corner kicks in the first half, but goalkeeper Dan Ball and the Buffs stopped the Eagles on each attempt.
 
Ball closed out a clean sheet in the first half with a series of spectacular saves to keep the game level. With just under two minutes remaining, he denied a free kick from Jose Rubio by pushing the shot wide and off the post for a Reinhardt corner kick. On the ensuing corner, Rubio and Adam Reakes each took shots from close range, but each chance was met with a diving stop by Ball.
 
Ball continued his performance in the second half as Samson Nayamunda made a shot at the goal but was met by the arms of Ball.
 
However, Rubio made another shot from the top of the penalty area approximately 25 yards out during the 61st minute, and it floated just out of Ball's reach, scoring the winning goal for Reinhardt.


The Eagles repeated their earlier defensive performance throughout the second half, keeping the Buffs just out of reach of a goal, but as the final seconds ticked away, Lewis Grant broke away on the right side of the field and fired a shot at the goal. Reinhardt goalkeeper Matt Amis knocked it away, but Calvin Mangunda regained control and made another attempt at the goal, only to be blocked by the body of a Reinhardt defender.
 
The Buffs held the No. 18 Reinhardt team to only eight shots on the evening, while making six shots of their own, and Ball made six saves against the offense that scored four goals in their win over then-No. 14 Union College last week.
 
Continuing the tough stretch of upcoming games, Milligan will host No. 20 Union (12-3, 5-1 AAC) on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. as part of a women's and men's doubleheader. The Buffaloes will then be back on Anglin Field over homecoming weekend, facing University of the Cumberlands on Saturday, Oct. 25.