No. 14 Men’s Soccer falls in PK’s in AAC quarterfinal to Montreat

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (November 5, 2021) – The Milligan University men's soccer team battled for 110 minutes but had its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament championship hopes dashed by virtue of a 5-4 shootout defeat to seventh-seeded Montreat on Friday afternoon.

The game goes into the record books as a 1-1 draw, making Milligan 15-2-1 on the year and moving Montreat to 8-9-1.

Neither team found the back of the net in the first half. Victor Castel had two of the Buffs' top chances in the first 45 minutes. Near the midway point of the first half Jett Carter won a ball near midfield and played a pass ahead to Castel, who was not quite able to square up a shot before the Montreat keeper made a sliding play on the ball.

In the 30th minute, Milligan goalie Jan Kuepper sent a long ball down the center of the field, bouncing beyond the defense onto a running Castel. Castel approached the penalty box from a left-side angle and stepped into a shot that was denied. The rebound scooted back out toward the left side and Castel fired another shot, but it also was saved.

On the ensuing corner kick, the ball rattled around the box, eventually making its way to the far post where Charlie Betts turned and aimed a shot on frame from point-blank distance, but his attempt was also turned back.

The Buffs outshot Montreat 7-3 in the first half and owned a 4-0 advantage in shots on goal.

In the 53rd minute, Betts made a run up the right side and slipped a cross to the near post where Castel pounced and hammered a shot just wide right.

In the 60th minute, a long throw in from Ethan Bishop into the penalty area was tracked down off the bounce by Jett Carter, who blasted a shot directly into the waiting Cavalier keeper.

Montreat took a 1-0 lead in the 66th minute as the Buffs inadvertently redirected the ball into their own net attempting to defend a grounded cross through the six-yard box.

Milligan would tie the game 11 minutes later as Castel took advantage of a failed clear by Montreat's goalie and lofted in a second-half equalizer from beyond the 18-yard box.

Keupper preserved the 1-1 score with a save in the 80th minute, and in the 86th minute Raphael Sefriou sent a free kick toward the left post. Betts aimed a shot off the bounce but was denied again.

The Buffs and Montreat remained deadlocked when the whistle sounded to signal the end of regulation.

Neither team fired a shot for the first nine minute of overtime. After the one-minute warning, the Cavaliers had an open look from the top of the box, but Kuepper made the stop. With just over 10 seconds remining in the first overtime, Montreat aimed another well-struck shot toward the net and Kuepper responded with a diving save.

Milligan attempted four shots and had three corner kicks in the second overtime but could not find a golden goal.

Tied at one after 110 minutes, the teams moved to the shady side of the field for a penalty shootout.

Montreat owned a 1-0 through the first set of penalty kicks, but Kuepper came up with a pair of saves in the second and third rounds and Sefriou converted to make it 1-1. Elies Sebbouh converted to make it 3-3. In the fifth round, Montreat made its attempt, forcing a do-or-die attempt for Simen Haraldstad, who buried his try. The same situation happed again in the sixth, with Alex Frances coming through to prolong the match. Montreat scored for the fifth time in the shootout in round seven and the Buffs were unable to answer as Montreat advanced via penalty kicks, 5-4.

The No. 14 Buffs can still earn a berth in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship tournament via an at-large bid. The 40-team tournament field will be revealed on Nov. 15.