BLUEFIELD, Va. – On Wednesday evening, the (RV) Milligan University men's soccer team continued their 2026 campaign on the road at Bluefield University in Bluefield, Va. After a slow start by the Buffaloes for the second matchup in a row, a stellar second half effort resulted in a 3-1 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) victory over the hosting Rams.
The first half was a tough-luck period for the Buffs, who led the game in shots by a 9-1 margin, yet they trailed 1-0 after 45 minutes. In the 23rd minute, the Rams tallied a goal off a set piece, as a free kick curled to the head of a Bluefield attacker and was run down by another player for the Rams. He steered the ball away from a diving
Sergi Cruz, before finishing with the opening goal. The Buffs had many chances, but couldn't find the back of the net before the half.
Still unable to convert for a goal, the Buffaloes were able to earn a penalty kick in the 59th minute, and it looked as if they would tie the score. However,
Marco Lattanzi's PK was saved by the BU keeper, stymieing Milligan yet again. A total of 74 minutes had gone by, still without a MU tally, before
Freddie Zinn finally converted on a curling shot from the top of the box inside the left post in the 75th minute to tie the score. Then, about a minute and 40 seconds later, a long ball over the top from
Javier Salgado found Lattanzi streaking for the net and he finished off a couple of bounces to give Milligan the lead at 2-1. The Buffs were not satisfied with just two goals, as in the 88th frame
Trotter Jones notched a goal on a setup from
Enol Morán, sealing the eventual victory by the score of 3-1.
There was a lopsided shot discrepancy at the contest's end, as MU took 23 shots to Bluefield's six. Additionally, nine of the Milligan attempts ended up on frame, while Bluefield had four shots on net. Lattanzi took a team-high six shots, with two on net, including his goal. Zinn attempted five shots with a pair of them on target and the game-tying tally.
Louis Folly-Castay and
Noé Bandi both took three shots, with Folly-Castay testing the keeper twice and Bando doing so once. Jones and
Youseff Heggy attempted one shot each, both of which were on frame, while Jones converted his try.
Connor Mast,
Ilija Dordevic,
Marcelo Marotta and Morán were responsible for the remaining four shots off target.
After allowing the first-half goal, Cruz was able to settle in, earning another victory in net and moving to 5-1-2 on the campaign. He totaled three saves in the triumphant effort.
With another win, the Buffs (6-1-2, 3-1-1 AAC) will now be tasked with upending a Truett McConnell squad who is currently undefeated in AAC play and leading the conference standings. The matchup takes place in Cleveland, Ga. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m.
