Roper’s hat trick leads Women’s Soccer over Rio Grande
MILLIGAN, Tenn. (September 2, 2023) – Freshman Natalie Roper scored three goals as the Milligan University women’s soccer team picked up its first win of the season with a 4-0 victory over Rio Grande at Anglin Field on Saturday morning.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rio Grande
(0-2-0)
|
0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Milligan (TN)
(1-1-0)
|
2 | 2 | 4 |
Team Stats
Rio Grande
| Game Statistics | Rio Grande | Milligan (TN) |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 5 (3) | 20 (12) |
| Saves | 8 | 3 |
| Fouls | 3 | 13 |
| Corner Kicks | 2 | 4 |
| Offsides | 0 | 4 |
MILLIGAN, Tenn. (September 2, 2023) – Freshman Natalie Roper scored three goals as the Milligan University women's soccer team picked up its first win of the season with a 4-0 victory over Rio Grande at Anglin Field on Saturday morning.
Milligan moves to 1-1 on the season while Rio Grande falls to 0-2.
Roper cashed in with a pair of long-range first half goals to give Milligan a 2-0 halftime edge. She started the scoring in the second minute. After a throw-in, Roper approached the top-left of the 18-yard box and fired a high-arcing shot over the goalkeeper into the opposite corner to put the Buffs ahead 1-0.
Roper scored again in the 27th minute, this time from the right side. Running onto a pass in transition, Roper cut back and fired a shot from just inside the top right of the penalty area into the opposite corner for her third goal of the season.
Rio Grande's best scoring chance of the first half came in the 16th minute on a corner kick that nearly snuck over the goal line but goalkeeper Akyla Walcott batted it away in time and the Buffs' back line cleared the ball without another attempt.
Late in the half Angeleena Waaland hit the crossbar in the 39th minute and had another long-range attempt sail just high of the frame.
The Buffs outshot Rio Grande 8-3 in the first half and carried a 2-0 lead into the second half.
Roper secured her hat trick in the 58th minute as she ran onto a lead pass from Kori Barnhill, juked the charging keeper and rolled in her third goal of the day.
Roper nearly added a fourth tally in the 73rd minute as she volleyed a cross from Sarah Buckner on frame but it was denied by Rio's keeper.
Grace Baldwin weaved through the penalty area and fired in her first collegiate goal in the 89th minute to bring the score to the final margin of 4-0.
The Buffs outshot Rio Grande 20-5 and had a 12-3 edge in shots on goal. Akyla Walcott made three saves in her first win as a Buff.
The Buffs travel to nationally-ranked Cumberland on Wednesday.