SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, Milligan University's women's soccer team began Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play on the road against Spartanburg Methodist College. The game was halted by a brief lightning delay in the ninth minute. A defensive battle ensued following the delay, as the game remained scoreless until the 87th minute, when Spartanburg Methodist struck for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Milligan had the match's first look just 11 seconds into the first half, when
Natalie Roper's shot sailed over the crossbar. Milligan kept pressing midway through the half, getting back-to-back chances from
Selma Salimi and
Kylie Malone just three seconds apart, but Spartanburg Methodist turned away both attempts. Spartanburg Methodist then got its offense going by winning back-to-back corners, putting Milligan goalkeeper Christian Davis to work. She turned away three shots in that stretch to keep the match level. The rest of the first half was a defensive battle.
Lauren Hawkley found space in the 35th minute and fired a shot that forced a save from the SMC keeper, which proved to be the last real scoring opportunity from either side. Overall, it was a very even defensive affair, as both sides took five shot attempts in the half and put three of them on net.
At the start of the second half,
Nora Pugh opened the Buffs' offense with back-to-back attempts in the first 10 minutes, putting one on net.
Halle Steele kept the momentum going by testing the SMC keeper with a shot on target in the 61st minute. Milligan continued to control play with a string of offensive chances. In the 72nd minute, Hawkley had another opportunity to break the tie, sending the rebound of her blocked shot on target. Two minutes later, Salimi had another attempt that sailed just wide of the target. In the 83rd minute,
Skyler Miller forced yet another save from the SMC keeper off a Hawkley corner kick. However, in the 87th minute, after limited opportunities in the half, the Pioneers found the back of the net to break the scoreless tie, and despite a late shot on target from Roper, Spartanburg Methodist held on for a 1-0 victory.
Milligan held an 18-12 advantage in total shots and outshot Spartanburg Methodist on goal, 11-8, while each team earned three corner kicks.
Natalie Roper led the way offensively for the Buffs with four total shot attempts and two shots on goal.
Selma Salimi,
Nora Pugh and
Halle Steele each took aim twice, putting one shot on target apiece.
Kylie Malone rounded out the chances with one shot that was on target.
Christain Davis saved seven of the eight shots sent her way, and despite a valiant effort between the pipes, her record moves to 0-3-1 on the season.
Milligan's (0-3-1, 0-1 AAC) next match will be its first home AAC contest of the 2026 campaign, as the Buffs host Reinhardt University on Saturday, Sept. 19. Opening kick for that game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Anglin Field.
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