TIGERVILLE, S.C. (Sept. 1, 2018) â€" Despite a go-ahead goal from freshman Isabella Cranford in the first half and an equalizing goal from junior Bekah Cundiff in the second half, the Milligan College women's soccer team dropped a 3-2 overtime decision Saturday at North Greenville University.
 
The match marked Milligan's second loss of the season, both having been decided in the final eight minutes of regulation or in overtime. Sophomore goalkeeper Eva Bower recorded a new career high with 13 saves.
 
CRANFORD STRIKES IN 28TH MINUTE
After a scoreless 27 minutes to start the match, Cranford broke open the scoring with her first collegiate goal in the 28th minute. The start was similar to Milligan's previous match in which freshman Ashlen Burch put the Buffs on top early against University of Rio Grande last Saturday. However, similar to Burch's goal, NGU answered Cranford's goal with two of their own over the next 21 minutes of action.
 
NGU made it 1-1 by the halftime break before taking the lead 2-1 in the 49th minute.
 
CUNDIFF EQUALIZES IN 62ND MINUTE
Facing a 2-1 deficit entering the final 30 minutes of the match, Cundiff made it 2-2 with her second goal of the season. The goal was enough to force overtime, where Milligan had posted two draws in 2017.
 
North Greenville once against provided an answer, this time eight and a half minutes into the extra period, via a golden goal from Kayla Cruse. Cruse scored for the second time in the match.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
North Greenville outshot Milligan 27-7 in the contest, including 16-5 on shots on goal. The Crusaders also posted 11 corner kicks compared to four from the Buffs.
 
Cranford and Cundiff paced the Milligan attack with two shots apiece. Burch, Dharma Fawbush and Poppy Smith each took one. Bower's 13 saves broke her previous career high of 11, which was set against Tennessee Wesleyan Sept. 30 last season.
 
UP NEXT
Milligan has a quick turnaround as the Buffs travel to Emory, Virginia, for another nonconference match at Emory & Henry College Sunday at 1 p.m. The next home match for the Buffs is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 5 p.m. and will be the Appalachian Athletic Conference opener versus new AAC member Columbia International University.

ðŸ"·: Robert Kell, Creative Story Visuals