MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Milligan University's men's soccer team honored its senior class Wednesday night under the lights at Anglin Soccer Field, as the Buffs welcomed the Carolina University Bruins for a non-conference matchup. The Bruins struck first in the opening half, but the Buffs found some second-half magic, scoring three goals in the final 45 minutes to earn a 3-1 victory on Senior Night.
Neither side got off to a fast start, as both teams settled into the match in the opening minutes. The Bruins had their first attempt of the night blocked in the third minute, and the Buffs' first attempt, from
Ilija Dordevic, missed just wide right.
Connor Mast put the game's first shot on goal with a header that was saved in the 28th minute. However, it was Carolina that notched the first tally with an unassisted goal two minutes later. The Buffs searched for the equalizer with the half winding down, as
Camden Lyles took aim but missed just high in the 37th minute in what proved to be Milligan's final attempt of the first half.
Coming out of the break, the Buffs needed a jolt of energy to turn the momentum, and it looked as if the Bruins were going to take control of the match when a well-placed header appeared headed for the back of the net. However,
Sergi Cruz made a diving stop to keep the Buffs' deficit at one. In the 59th minute, the Buffs turned the tide when a
Drew Shelton corner kick set up a
Javier Salgado strike that evened the score. Milligan looked to capitalize on the momentum, but multiple attempts over the next several minutes missed the frame. In the 83rd minute, the Buffs were awarded a free kick from well outside the Bruins' box, and Shelton stepped up and bent a beautiful shot around the defenders and across the line to give the Buffs a 2-1 lead. Just a minute later,
Marcelo Marotta nearly doubled the advantage with a shot off the post, but Dordevic was there to clean it up, sending the rebound into the empty net to give the Buffs a comfortable two-goal margin with six minutes to play. In the closing minutes, the Buffs rode the momentum from their three second-half goals to cruise to a 3-1 victory.
Milligan held a 12-10 edge in shots, while both teams put four shots on goal. The Buffs also owned a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Shelton led the way with three shots, adding a goal and an assist. Salgado and Dordevic each took two shots and found the back of the net once. Mast, Marotta, Lyles,
Zak Kersey and
Jayce Johnston added one shot apiece, with Mast's header being the Buffs' lone shot on goal of the first half.
Salgado's equalizer was his first goal of the season and the second of his career, while Shelton's game-winning free kick was his first goal of his senior season. Marotta picked up his first career assist on Dordevic's insurance goal, which was Dordevic's second tally of the year.
João Ferreira played the first 45 minutes in goal and made one save, while Cruz shut out the Bruins over the final 45 minutes with two saves, including a diving stop early in the second half.
Next up, Milligan (10-4-3, 5-4-2 AAC) will host Reinhardt University on Saturday, Oct. 31, in a rescheduled Appalachian Athletic Conference regular-season finale. With a spot in the AAC Tournament already clinched, the match will determine where the Buffs are seeded. First kick is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Anglin Soccer Field.
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