BARBOURVILLE, Ky. – On Saturday, Milligan University's women's soccer team traveled to Barbourville, Ky. for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) match with Union Commonwealth University. The Buffs scored twice in the first 13 minutes and added three more goals after halftime to cruise to a 5-0 road victory.
The Buffs wasted no time getting on the board. In the 10th minute, Lauren Hawkley opened the scoring on an assist from Halle Steele. Steele then found the net herself in the 13th minute, her sixth goal of the season, with Selma Salimi credited with the assist to make it 2-0. Union Commonwealth sent a shot wide right in the 15th minute, and Salimi had an attempt of her own go wide in the 16th. The hosts tested Christain Davis in the 25th minute with a shot on frame, but Davis made the save. Raelyn Muniz sent a shot wide right in the 31st minute, and Union Commonwealth's next attempt went wide in the 40th minute.
Milligan carried the 2-0 lead into the break and extended it early in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Hawkley found the back of the net for her second goal of the match to make it 3-0. Moments earlier, the Buffs had earned a corner kick taken by Kylie Malone, and Hawkley had a shot saved just before the goal. Hawkley had another attempt saved in the 55th minute. Muniz had an attempt saved in the 56th, and Malone sent a shot just high in the 58th. Natalie Roper's shot was saved in the 61st minute, and in the 62nd Salimi rattled the crossbar. Angela Wachira found the net in the 63rd minute for her second goal of the season, with Malone earning the assist, to make it 4-0. Sarah Buckner capped the scoring in the 82nd minute with her first goal of the season, making it 5-0. Rylee Tarbet took over in goal for Davis at that point, and the Buffs cruised to a 5-0 shutout victory.
In the end, Milligan held a 14-10 shot advantage and a 9-2 edge in shots on goal, while also owning a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks. Nine of the Buffs' 14 attempts came in the second half. Hawkley led the Milligan attack with four shots, all on target, and two goals. Salimi attempted three shots and picked up an assist, while Muniz added two attempts, one on frame. Steele, Wachira and Buckner each scored on their lone shot, with Steele also adding an assist. Roper put her only shot on target, and Malone had one attempt to go with her assist.
Davis played 82 minutes in goal and made two saves before Tarbet finished the final eight minutes.
Next up, Milligan (7-7-2, 6-5-1 AAC) will return home for one final tune-up match before the postseason, a non-conference contest against No. 22 Georgia Gwinnett on Wednesday, Oct. 28, while the Buffs await their finish in the AAC standings. First kick is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Anglin Field.
