MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Saturday, for the second time this week, Milligan University's men's soccer squad took to Anglin Field for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contest. This time, the Buffs faced the Columbia International Rams, who sit sixth in the AAC standings. After the two sides combined for just six shot attempts in the first half, Milligan began applying pressure in the second half but was unable to find a winning goal, as the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
The first half was largely a feeling-out process for both sides. Milligan's most threatening sequence came early in the period, when the Buffs were awarded a indirect free kick inside Columbia International's box four minutes into the game. The free kick was played into the box to striker
Marco Lattanzi, who struck the ball cleanly, but his shot was knocked down by a Ram defender. Over the next 30 minutes, the two sides each took two shots that were blocked almost immediately, posing minimal threat. In the 38th minute, CIU put a header on target, but
Sergi Cruz made the save for Milligan. That shot proved to be the last attempt from either side before the halftime break.
Coming out of the break, Milligan looked to break the tie early. The Buffs earned a corner kick less than two minutes in, and in the 47th minute,
Ilija Dordevic put a shot on frame after
Javier Salgado's goal-bound attempt was blocked. The Rams answered by testing Cruz in the 49th minute, but he came down with the save. Two Milligan chances were wiped away by offside calls in the 47th and 56th minutes before Dordevic found another opening in the 58th, but the Rams goalie again stood tall. The two sides continued to battle for the go-ahead goal, and the Buffs' next chance came in the 85th minute, when
Luiz Pereira's header was saved by the Rams keeper. Down the stretch, Milligan threatened with possession in its attacking half, and
Liam Lahsangah's shot in the 88th minute, which was saved, proved to be the Buffs' best scoring chance of the match. In the end, neither side found a winner, and both teams left Anglin Field with a draw tallied on their records.
Overall, Milligan held a 9-7 shot advantage, with six of its nine attempts coming in the second half. The two sides finished even with four shots on goal apiece, while the Buffs owned a 6-2 edge in corner kicks. Dordevic led the Buffs with two shots, both of which were on frame. Lattanzi also attempted two shots, but both were blocked. Pereira and Lahsangah each put their lone attempt on net, while
Freddie Zinn, Salgado and
Enol Morán each had one shot blocked.
Cruz played all 90 minutes in goal and made four saves to post his second straight clean sheet and fourth of the season, moving his record to 8-2-3.
Next up, the Buffaloes (9-2-3, 5-2-2 AAC) will play the third game of their home stand against AAC foe Pikeville on Wednesday Oct. 21. First kick for that match is set for 5 p.m.
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