MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Sept. 10, 2017) â€" For 75 minutes, the Milligan College men's soccer team hung tough with one of the best teams in the nation, but a pair of late goals saw the Buffs fall 2-0 to Cumberland University Sunday evening on Anglin Soccer Field.
 
The match was decided in the 76th minute as Cumberlands' Daniel Williams received a pass from Bakary Bagayogo inside the penalty area and finished from close range. Cumberlands, which is receiving votes in the latest NAIA national top 25 poll, added a consolation goal with 28 seconds left as Milligan was pushing numbers forward looking to equalize.
 
Milligan, fresh off a big win at University of Pikeville Friday night, was outshot by Cumberlands 11-5, but the Buffs had the edge in shots on goal at 5-4. Freshman Rhys Borror accounted for two of those shots, including one that nearly gave the Buffs the lead as time expired in the first half. As the clock counted down the final seconds, Borror received a pass inside the penalty area but only had time to get one touch, and the shot was saved by Cumberland goalkeeper Bennet Strutz.
 
Matthew Crow had another one of Milligan's good chances on what would have been a game-tying goal with less than two minutes left in regulation. Crow was open inside the penalty area but the pass was just out of reach and Crow's header was saved again by Strutz.
 
Senior Josh Willard accounted for one of Milligan's other close attempts, and his opportunity came 15 minutes into the second half following a counterattack. Freshman Junior Nyamunda would have had the assist as Nyamunda's pass found Willard open at the top of the penalty area, but the shot again was saved by a diving Strutz. In all, the Buffs forced Strutz to make five saves.
 
At the other end, Nick Smith made two saves to bring his career total up to 204. The senior recorded his 200th career save when the Buffs defeated Pikeville 3-0 earlier this week.
 
Milligan's next match on the schedule is Thursday as the Buffs head to Reinhardt University for the first Appalachian Athletic Conference contest of the season. The Buffs will be back home on Wednesday, Sept. 27, versus Bluefield College.