COLUMBIA, S.C. – Milligan University's men's soccer team continued their 2025 campaign on the road in Columbia, S.C. against the Columbia International University Rams. Though the score was not indicative of the level of dominance in the battle, the Buffs took home a simple 2-0 triumph to move to 8-2-0 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contests.
 
The pitch was a muddy one in Columbia, as recent rain created a slippery playing surface. The first half saw the results of the conditions, with neither side able to score a goal. Milligan held a 13-4 shot advantage in the opening half, as they tested the CIU defense throughout the period.
 
A similar output from the Buffaloes in the second half offensively, with 13 shots taken, resulted in a pair of goals. For Freddie Zinn, it was his first tally of the season scored in the 55th minute, when a cross into the box found Zinn's boot for the eventual game-winning goal. Just over 10 minutes later, Milligan scored again, this time from Kerim Akpinar. His goal came from an assist by midfielder Grayson Hammond in the 66th minute. That 2-0 lead would stand for the rest of the bout, heavily due to the fact that the Buffs held CIU to just one shot, which was off target.
 
A total of 26 shots were taken by the Buffaloes, with only five shot off frame coming from the Rams. Akpinar and Basar both tallied three shots on frame in the win, while Zinn and Johnny Salgado supplied a pair each. Hammond, Federico Confaloni, Asa Blake and Marco Lattanzi concluded the 14 shots on goal taken in the matchup by Milligan, recording one apiece.
 
Florian Quast has now won his first two contests in net and earned his first clean sheet of his career, though he did not have to make a save in the triumph.
 
The road stretch for MU continues on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at the University of Pikeville (Ky.) Bears at 7:30 p.m., as they look to lengthen their winning streak to three straight.