MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Oct. 24, 2018) â€" Roberto Fernandez Garrido scored his team leading 11th goal of the season and the Milligan College men's soccer team clinched a spot in the 2018 Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament with a 4-2 win over Union College Wednesday night at Anglin Field.

The victory marked the first time Milligan (7-6-2, 3-4-2 AAC) has defeated Union (8-7-2, 5-5 AAC) since 2014 and the seven overall wins are the most the Buffs have had in a single season since 2012.

GARRIDO PUTS MILLIGAN ON THE BOARD FIRST
After a couple near misses early in the first half, the Buffs finally caught a break in the 22nd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick. Garrido had slipped past a Union defender, who held onto his jersey, forcing the referee to call a foul inside the box. The penalty was taken by Garrido who proceeded to place the ball in the back of the net to give Milligan the early 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs would answer in the 25th minute scoring on a penalty kick of their own by Kenny Brown, but it wouldn't take Milligan long to jump back on top.

Isiah Goddard-Joseph capitalized on a deflected corner kick and scored his first goal of the season in the 31st minute to give the Buffs the 2-1 advantage heading into the half.

PEARSON, LEVARITY ADD CUSHION IN THE SECOND
In the 56th minute, Jack Pearson gave Milligan some much needed cushion with a strike from about 20 yards out for his first career goal. Harry Griffin delivered the ball to Pearson for his team leading eighth assist of the season.

Union would trim into the deficit one final time with a goal in the 63rd minute by Eden Gumbs to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Buffs.

Andre Levarity would put the game away for good in the 75th minute as he netted his second goal of the season off of a deflection by Union's keeper, Pedro Muller Moreira, to extend Milligan's lead to 4-2.

BY THE NUMBERS
For the match, Milligan outshot the Bulldogs 17-14, and both teams recorded nine shots on goal. The Buffs also tallied seven corner kicks to Union's four.

Garrido led all players with four shot attempts, including three on goal. Robell Habte followed with three shots with one on frame.

Keeper Luke Dove recorded seven saves for the second consecutive match in the win.

Milligan is now 3-0-2 in their last five conference matches, while Union has dropped three of their last five overall.

BUFFS CLOSE OUT REGULAR SEASON SATURDAY
Milligan wraps up the regular season Saturday at Anglin Field when they host new AAC member Columbia International at 7 p.m. Seniors Jonathan Russell, Dove, Nazren Habte, Bradley Hammond, Tayzere Arnott and Jack Royston will be honored for senior night.