No. 12 Men’s Soccer battles back to beat Montreat 2-1

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (September 25, 2021) – Second half goals by Alex Frances and Jett Carter powered the No. 12-ranked Milligan University men's soccer team to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Montreat on Saturday.

The Buffs move to 7-1 on the year and 4-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action. Montreat moves to 4-3, 3-2 AAC.

After a scoreless first half, Montreat struck first in the 58th minute when Carlos Hernandez struck a well-placed free kick from just outside the penalty box into the top-left corner of the goal.

The Buffs responded with an equalizer less than two minutes later. Victor Castel sent a corner kick into the six-yard box where Odin Solheim attempted a running header that was saved, but Frances pounced on the rebound and volleyed it into the goal to tie the game at one.

Carter broke the 1-1 tie with his team-leading sixth goal in the 69th minute. Ethan Bishop launched a throw-in into the box where the Montreat goalkeeper knocked it down but could not collect it. Carter snatched the loose ball in the penalty area and fired a grounded shot inside the right post to give the Buffs a 2-1 lead.

Carter nearly put the game away in the 86th minute when he intercepted a Montreat throw-in in deep in Cavalier territory. He scooter around a defender and fired a shot just wide of the right of the goal.

In the game's final 90 seconds, Montreat recorded two corners, three shots and one shot on goal. Jan Kuepper made a diving stop on the Cavaliers' only clean look and the Buffs survived the late desperate flurry.

In the game's first minute, Milligan's high pressure led to an opportunity with the Montreat goalie off his line and Odin Solheim stepping into a shot about 25 yards away, but the Cavs goalkeeper made an acrobatic stop to keep the Buffs from taking an early 1-0 lead.

Montreat's only shot on frame in the first half on a free kick in the 23rd minute, but Kuepper denied the attempt with a diving stop.

In the 33rd minute, Elies Simo slipped behind the Montreat back line on a free kick and had a near point blank opportunity that rolled wide just wide of the right post.

For the game, Montreat outshot the Buffs 15-12 but Milligan owned a 6-4 edge in shots on goal.

Kuepper made three saves in the win.

Milligan men's soccer team returns to Anglin Field Thursday evening for a nonconference game against Pikeville.