Milligan Women's Soccer Cruises to Victory at St. Andrews

Mariah Shull scored the opening goal against St. Andrews, which ended up being the game-winning tally in Milligan women's soccer's 3-0 shutout
Mariah Shull scored the opening goal against St. Andrews, which ended up being the game-winning tally in Milligan women's soccer's 3-0 shutout
October 2, 2024

LAURINBURG, N.C. – The Milligan University women's soccer squad traveled to Laurinburg, N.C. on Wednesday to battle Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent, St. Andrews University. The Buffs supplied three first-half goals, which would be more than enough, as they shut out the Knights 3-0 to earn their fifth conference triumph of the campaign.

Mariah Shull continued her strong season with the game's first goal in the third minute. She was set up by Lauren Hawkley to give Milligan an early advantage. Fifteen minutes elapsed before Natalie Roper scored a do-it-yourself goal in the 18th minute to double the Buffaloes lead. With about 15 minutes left to play in the opening half, Kara McDaniel converted on her first goal this season, off an Amber McCleskey assist.

Just as in the men's game the preceded it, this bout was rather uneventful in the second set of 45 minutes, as neither side could convert on any chances, leading to the final result of a 3-0 win for the Buffs.

Milligan held an 18-11 advantage in the shot department and had an 11-5 lead in shots on frame. Shull doubled the shot output from any other Buffs attacker, taking five in the game and threatening the net with two of those. Her first was a goal that ended up being the game-winning tally. Roper was the only other player with two shots on net, as both her shots in the battle ended up requiring a save or hitting the back of the net. Six players (McClesky, Lucy Knowles, Kori Barnhill, McDaniel, Hawkley and Nora Pugh) took one shot apiece in the bout that were each on frame.

Akyla Walcott started the tilt and saved all five shots that she faced, continuing to play strong after winning AAC Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 23-29. Her record is now 4-4-2 on the year. Annie Steele entered for Milligan and finished the final few minutes without having to make a save during that stint.

Three matchups in a row will now be played at Anglin Field for the Lady Buffs, as Reinhardt comes to town for the first one on Saturday, Oct. 5 for a 2 p.m. kick-off.