Mbaakanyi the Difference as Buffs Men’s Soccer Overcomes Columbia

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Coming off an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) draw on Wednesday, the No. 4-ranked Milligan University Buffaloes returned to the win column against Columbia College on Saturday at Anglin Field. Despite being down a man and a goal down the Buffs were able to overcome a stingy Koalas team to win 3-1. 

In the opening half, Milligan found themselves dominating much of the play in the early minutes of the game but, out of nothing, the Koalas were able to turn a broken play into a goal and take the 1-0 lead inside 15 minutes. The rest of the first half was a tight affair with the Buffs dominating possession but not offering any clear cut chances despite seven shots on goal. 

Everything changed just twenty seconds into the second half after Boikaego Mbaakanyi was brought down in the box after some great footwork. Simen Haraldstad would put the Buffs up 1-0 from the spot. This exact same scenario would play out again for the Buffs in the 60^th minute as Mbaakanyi drew another penalty which was scored by Marco Lattanzi to make it 2-1. He would later be rewarded for his work with own goal in the 89^th minute after rounding the keeper to score. 

The Buffs were down to 10 men after goalkeeper Adria Alles was sent off with a straight red in the 72^nd minute forcing the Buffs to bring on Ludwig Wille to see out the match.

Alles and Wille were forced to make zero saves during the game, as Alles earned his first decision to move to 1-0-0 this year.

The season continues for Milligan on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at Bluefield University in Bluefield, Va. as the Buffs look forward to battling for a big win on the road in conference play.