Milligan University

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Saturday afternoon, Milligan University's women's soccer team hosted their first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) match of the 2026 campaign, as the Buffs welcomed the Reinhardt University Eagles to Anglin Field. After a feeling-out process from both sides in the first half, the offenses began to find chances in the second half. However, neither side was able to find the back of the net, and in the end, Milligan played to their second scoreless tie of the season. With the tie, the Buffs move to 0-4-2 on the season and 0-1-1 in AAC play.

In the opening half, both sides worked to find space and a defensive battle ensued. Reinhardt found the first scoring opportunity of the game from either side, as just over a minute in, they put Milligan goalkeeper Christian Davis to work. Halle Steele had the first opportunity for Milligan in the ninth minute, taking a shot that ended up on frame. Following the shot, Steele found space in the attacking third and sent in threatening crosses, hitting the crossbar on one such play. In the 13th minute, Natalie Roper got the ball in a congested Reinhardt goal box and took a shot that ended up being blocked. Approaching the end of the half, the Buffs found their final scoring opportunity of the period, which came off the boot of Steele and was bound for the back of the goal but was stopped by the Reinhardt keeper. Overall, Reinhardt held a seven-to-four shot advantage over Milligan in the half, with each side putting two shots on net.

The second half was played at a much more frenetic pace, and Lauren Hawkley got the offense started less than two minutes in, sending a shot that missed just to the left. Less than five minutes later, it was Hawkley again who took aim, this time sending a ball that forced a save. In the 72nd minute, the Buffs potentially had their best opportunity to score when a laser from Halle Steele grazed off the fingers of the Eagles keeper and hit the crossbar. The Buffs had another golden opportunity in the 81st minute, when Selma Salimi found herself one-on-one with the goalie and sent a strike that looked destined for the left post, but the Eagles keeper came away with a diving save. Reinhardt's keeper made yet another diving save in the 84th minute when a shot from Steele deflected off her foot on its way toward goal. With the score still knotted at 0, the Buffs had the final opportunity to find the go-ahead goal with just 15 seconds left in the contest. A Reinhardt foul just outside the box led to a Hawkley free kick that was bound for the back of the net, but Reinhardt once again came away with the save.

Lauren Hawkley and Halle Steele paced the Buffs' offense, each putting three shots on target, while Hawkley finished with a team-high five shots overall, while Steele added four. Natalie Roper put one of her two attempts on frame, and Selma Salimi made her lone shot count as well. Raelyn Muniz added two shots, while Nora Pugh and Kara McDaniel rounded out the offense with one shot apiece.

Christain Davis turned away all four shots that came her way to preserve the clean sheet, and her record moves to 0-4-2 on the season.
 
Next up for Milligan (0-4-2, 0-2-1 AAC) will be a trip to Dayton, Tenn. to face the Bryan College Lions in AAC contest on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Opening kick for that game is scheduled for 5  p.m.