ATHENS, Tenn. (Sept. 8, 2018) â€" Senior Amy Long scored her first goal of the season to put the Milligan College women's soccer team on top in the second half, but a goal late in regulation followed by a golden goal in the second overtime period sent Tennessee Wesleyan University to a 2-1 victory over the Buffs Saturday.
 
The match marked the third time Milligan went to overtime already this season as the Buffs moved their record to 1-3-1 (0-1 AAC). Tennessee Wesleyan, the Appalachian Athletic Conference preseason favorite receiving votes in the NAIA top 25 poll, improved to 1-3. The Bulldogs were No. 15 in the NAIA preseason poll but lost its first two matches to NAIA top 20 teams.
 
Long's goal looked to give Milligan victory midway through the second half as she scored in the 71st minute off an assist from Amy Olvera. However, TWU's Julia Ruiz Vargas scored the first of her two goals with 1:05 left in regulation to force the extra time, then scored the winning goal midway through the second overtime. Vargas' winner came on a rebound after Milligan goalkeeper Eva Bower made her sixth save of the match.
 
As the need for overtime would indicate, Milligan and Tennessee Wesleyan played a close match, with the host Bulldogs leading the shot count 15-14 and the shot on goal count 8-6. Both teams took two corner kicks in the 103-plus minutes of action. Bulldog goalkeeper Kelly Morine made five saves in the match.
 
Freshman Ashlen Burch led the Buffs on the offensive end, taking five shots including two on goal. Olvera and Poppy Smith took two shots apiece.
 
Milligan will return to Anglin Field for its next match Wednesday, Sept. 12, for an AAC meeting with Columbia International University. CIU was selected to finish eighth according to the preseason coaches' poll, although the Rams are off to a 4-0 start.