Big second half powers No. 12 Men’s Soccer over Truett McConnell 4-0

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (October 6, 2021) – The Milligan University men's soccer team netted three second-half goals in a 4-0 victory over Truett McConnell at Anglin Field on Wednesday afternoon.

The No. 12-ranked Buffs move to 9-1 on the season and 5-1 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. Truett McConnell falls to 3-5-2, 2-5 AAC.

The Buffs threatened in the game's first 10 minutes with two near-scoring chances in the seventh minute. Alex Frances hit the left post on a close-range header and Luke Bennett stepped into a rebound that was blocked right at the net.

Milligan generated four corner kicks in a two-minute span near the midway point of the first half, but none of the Buffs' three shots during the sequence found the back of the net.

In the 28th minute, Frances volleyed a point-blank rebound just over the goal.

Odin Solheim scored the game's first goal on a feed from Charlie Betts inside the right side of the six-yard box in the 34th minute.

Early in the second half, Jan Kuepper preserved Milligan's 1-0 advantage with a sliding save, thwarting a prime scoring opportunity for Truett McConnell in the 49th minute.

Frances gave the Buffs a 2-0 advantage with his fifth goal of the season in the 56th minute. Victor Castel chipped a ball past the back line onto Frances who redirected the ball out of the air and around TMU's keeper.

Ethan Bishop scored his first career goal on a well-placed header in the 73rd minute off a long-distance cross from Luke Bennett.

Sondre Haaland put an exclamation point on the win with a tally off a feed from Castel in the final minute of play.

The Buffs outshot TMU 24-6 on the afternoon and owned a 12-4 edge in shots on target.

Kuepper made four saves in his sixth shutout victory of the season.

The Buffs head to CIU to take on the undefeated Rams in South Carolina on Saturday night.