Men’s soccer wraps historic season in opening round championship
After coming away victorious with a thrilling overtime victory over No. 12 Georgia Gwinnett in the opening round of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship earlier this week, Milligan University’s historic season finally came to a close Saturday in the championship game of the opening round with a 2-1 loss to St. Thomas.
| Final | 1 | 2 | T |
|---|---|---|---|
|
(RV) St. Thomas
(13-5-0)
|
0 | 2 | 2 |
|
Milligan
(12-3-0)
|
1 | 0 | 1 |
Team Stats
(RV) St. Thomas
| Game Statistics | (RV) St. Thomas | Milligan |
|---|---|---|
| Shots (on goal) | 7 (3) | 6 (2) |
| Saves | 1 | 1 |
| Fouls | 14 | 13 |
| Corner Kicks | 3 | 2 |
| Offsides | 1 | 3 |
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (April 24, 2021) – After coming away victorious with a thrilling overtime victory over No. 12 Georgia Gwinnett in the opening round of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship earlier this week, Milligan University's historic season finally came to a close Saturday in the championship game of the opening round with a 2-1 loss to St. Thomas.
This marked the end to a superb season for Milligan, which won the Appalachian Athletic Conference regular season for the first time since 2012 and advanced to the national tournament for the first time since 2006. The Buffaloes also were AAC tournament runners-up, and Thursday's win over host Georgia Gwinnett marked the program's first victory on the national stage since the 2006 season.
"Credit to St. Thomas who deserve to go through," said Head Coach David Lilly, who was part of the team's 2006 AAC regular season and tournament titles, and its trip to the national championship. "We are all disappointed with the result today but everyone in the program should hold their heads high. What we have been able to achieve is extraordinary. This year has been full of constant adversity, and we have become stronger with each obstacle we have met. We will learn lessons from today and look back on this year as an incredible achievement."
Inaki Moreno scored his sixth goal of the season on a penalty kick that put the Buffaloes ahead 1-0 in the 18th minute, but two second-half goals from St. Thomas advanced the Bobcats to the national championship final site. St. Thomas, who like Milligan is receiving votes in the national top-25 poll, equalized in the 49th minute before sending in the eventual game winner in the 61st minute.
"We thank our amazing seniors for leaving a lasting legacy," Lilly added. "We will be looking to build on the standards they have set again next season. This is just the beginning for this group."