MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Wednesday evening, the Milligan men's soccer team tested their skills against the Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan at Anglin field. After stumbling early in the game, the Buffs could not recover and fell by a final score of 1-4. The loss moves Milligan's overall record to 2-2-1 and their Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) record to 1-1.

In the early minutes of the game, Milligan fell victim to an injury and could not get a substitute for over five minutes. It led to the shorthanded Buffs conceding a goal, putting them behind 1-0. The Bulldogs went on to score two more goals later in the first half. First, they found a one-on-one opportunity with the goalie after a long ball into the box that they converted on, and later they capitalized on a penalty kick to extend the lead to 3-0. At the end of the first period, Kerim Akpinar got the ball in front of the net, after Johnny Salgado's shot was blocked, and sent a shot past the goalie to make the score 3-1 heading into the second half.

Milligan looked to get back into the game early in the second half but had a pair of shots off the boot of Emir Basar and Akpinar saved by the TWU goalie in the first six minutes. The Buffs continued to push the pace on offense to try and get within striking distance but were unable to score a goal in the period. Tennessee Wesleyan took advantage of Milligan's pressing offense and scored again in the 79th minute to reach the final score of 4-1.

Basar and Akpinar led the attack for Milligan as they finished with six shots apiece. Ethan Hayes and Federico Confaloni followed with two, while a plethora of Buffs each added one. Milligan finished the game outshooting the Bulldogs 24-19, but they trailed in shots on goal, 9-7.

Akpinar has now scored in two straight games and four out of the five games played this season.
 
Adria Alles saved five of the nine shots on goal, and his record now moves to 2-2-1 for the season.

Next up for Milligan is a trip to Waleska, Ga. for an AAC matchup with the Reinhardt University Eagles on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m.