Women’s Soccer falls at Columbia (S.C.) 4-2

COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 23, 2023) – The Milligan University women's soccer team dropped an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) game at Columbia (S.C.) 4-2 on Saturday afternoon.

The Buffs fall to 3-4-1 on the season and 2-2 in AAC play. The Koalas move to 3-2-2, 1-2-1 AAC.

Most of the opening 20 minutes were played in the middle third of the field with neither team developing any significant scoring chances. The Koalas had an opening and fired a long-range shot in the 25th minute that Akyla Walcott denied with a diving save.

Columbia struck first in the 31st minute with an end-to-end transition goal as the Koalas quickly moved the ball from their own 18-yard box to the Milligan goal to take a 1-0 lead.

In the 39th minute, Natalie Roper stole a Columbia pass in the Koala's half of the field, created some space and ripped a shot from about 25 yards out inside the left post to tie the game at one with her team-leading sixth goal of the season.

In the second minute of the second half Lauren Hawkley gave the Buffs a 2-1 lead. Her a ball through the six-yard box hit off a defender and looped into the goal for Hawkley's fourth tally of the season.

The Koalas found an equalizer in the 55th minute with a 40-yard free kick sneaking into the top left corner of the goal over a leaping Walcott to tie the game at two.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the Buffs fouled a Columbia player who was receiving a throw-in inside the 18-yard box resulting in a penalty kick. The Koalas converted the PK to take a late 3-2 lead.

Columbia added an insurance goal in the 83rd minute with another end-to-end score. The Koala goalkeeper punted the ball to midfield, where it was headed beyond the Milligan back line and Columbia's Jordan Myers ran onto the ball and scored her third goal of the game.

The Buffs were unable to record a shot the rest of the game as the Koalas took the 4-2 victory. Columbia outshot Milligan 13-5 and had a 6-3 edge in shots on goal.

Milligan hosts Bluefield on Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m.