MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Aug. 25, 2018) â€" Three Buffs found the back of the net in the Milligan College women's soccer team's 2018 season opener Saturday at Anglin Field, but the Buffs lost a back and forth battle to the University of Rio Grande RedStorm, 4-3.
 
MILLIGAN'S COMEBACK
One of the most notable goals for Milligan (0-1) came in the 70th minute when Bekah Cundiff helped the Buffs erase a two-goal deficit when she scored from close range off an assist from Dharma Fawbush. Cundiff's goal made it 3-3 and happened eight minutes after Amy Long found Amy Olvera on a breakaway to cut it to 3-2.
 
Milligan's back-to-back goals in a span of eight minutes answered Rio's back-to-back goals in the first half, when the RedStorm scored twice in a span of three and a half minutes to go on top 2-1.
 
BURCH PUTS BUFFS ON TOP EARLY
Freshman Ashlen Burch put the Buffs on the board initially with a well-struck attempt in the 15th minute, which made it 1-0. After coming up with a steal in Milligan's attacking third, Burch scored the first goal of her collegiate career off the inside of the far post and into the back corner of the net.
 
TOTALS
Milligan outshot Rio Grande 18-12 in the contest, including 8-6 on shots on frame. Burch led individually with four shots. Alex Thomas, Olvera, Long and Fawbush took three shots apiece.
 
Eva Bower, a member of the Appalachian Athletic Conference All-Conference second team last season, made two saves for the Buffs.
 
RIO'S WINNER
After Cundiff's equalizer made it 3-3 in the 70th minute, Rio's Brooklyn Pritt scored near the top of the penalty area in the 83rd minute, and the RedStorm held on from there. Pritt's goal followed an assist she had on Rio's third goal of the match early in the second half.
 
Milligan had several close chances in the final seven minutes of action but came up empty in each.
 
UP NEXT
Milligan will be on the road for its next four matches. First up will be University of North Greenville Saturday, Sept. 1, at 4 p.m. The next home match for the Buffs is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. versus new AAC member Columbia International University.

ðŸ"·: Robert Kell, Creative Story Visuals