MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Milligan University women's soccer's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) slate continued on Wednesday night, as the Buffaloes faced off with the No. 24-ranked Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan University on Anglin Field. After opening the game with an early 1-0 lead, MU allowed five of the next six goals and fell by a score of 5-2.
Milligan is now sitting at 2-2-1 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

The first goal of the season from Milligan's Katelyn Penner came to fruition in the 16^th minute of the battle, as a Sarah Buckner cross pinballed to Penner's left foot. She sent a shot just under the crossbar that tipped off the TWU goalie's fingers to give the Buffs an early 1-0 lead. Then, the Bulldogs responded with a 38^th-minute tally on an 'olimpico' goal straight off a corner kick. With just under half a minute left in the period, TWU scored again to take their first lead of the bout, 2-1.

The second half included goals in the 51^st and 62^nd minutes by Tennessee Wesleyan, which made it a harsh three-goal deficit that the Buffaloes were tasked with overcoming. In the 63^rd minute, though, Mariah Shull tallied the second goal of the match for Milligan on a redirection off a set piece from the boot of Lauren Hawkley to make it 4-2 in favor of the visitors. A late 83^rd-minute strike was added by the Bulldogs to notch an eventual 5-2 victory over the Buffs.

Tennessee Wesleyan held a decisive 25-9 shot advantage, while shots on frame were closer at 14-7. Hawkley and Buckner both took two shots in the game, while Shull, Penner, Destini Martinez, Alara Tyrer and Natalie Roper combined for the other five.

Emily Robinson was able to stop nine shots on goal but did allow the five goals and now holds a 2-2-1 overall record on the season between the pipes.

Following the loss, the squad will now be tasked with toppling the Reinhardt University (Ga.) Eagles on the road in Waleska on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 5 p.m.