Second half goals sink No. 20 Men’s Soccer at No. 15 Dalton State

DALTON, Ga. (September 3, 2022) – After a scoreless first half, a pair of second half goals by No. 15 Dalton State resulted in Milligan's first defeat of the season, 2-0, in Georgia on Saturday evening.

The No. 20 Buffs fall to 0-1-2 on the year while Dalton States remains unbeaten at 3-0-1.

In the game's opening minutes, Ethan Bishop sent a ball forward from midfield that was headed forward by Edward Burgos to a charging Luke Bennett who had a one-on-one opportunity with Roadrunner's goalie Michael Barrueta. Bennett tried to flick his shot over the advancing keeper and his attempt flew just high of the crossbar.

In the ninth minute, Milligan keeper Ludvig Wille made a one-on-one stop by the right post against a Dalton State forward who had broken through the Buff back line.

Milligan's lone shot on goal in the first half came in the 28th minute when the Buffs transitioned from the defensive quickly to the Dalton State penalty area. Asa Blake received a pass from Greg Anderson entering the top of 18-yard box and juked a defender and encountered the charging Dalton State goalkeeper, who made a diving stop on Blake's attempt.

Dalton State scored in the opening 10 minutes of the second half as a ball pass through the penalty box and ended up with a right-angled shot that may have deflected off a defender and into the left side of the goal to give the hosts a 1-0 edge.

Dalton State caught Milligan on a counterattack after a long Milligan throw in to extend the Roadrunners' lead to 2-0 in the 73rd minute.

With just under 11 minutes remaining, Milligan was awarded a free kick just beyond the 18-yard box from the left side. The pass connected with a Buff beyond the right post, but the cross attempt toward the left post was intercepted and cleared by the Roadrunners.

In Milligan's last prominent scoring opportunity, Jett Carter found Anderson with a throw-in up the right sideline. Anderson juked inside a defender and lined up an attempt, but the shot was saved by Dalton State's goalie. The Roadrunners held off the Buffs to secure the 2-0 victory.

Dalton State finished with a 9-6 edge in shots and 8-2 advantage in corner kicks. The teams combined for five yellow cards on the evening.

The Buffs travel to Tennessee Wesleyan to open Appalachian Athletic Conference play on Friday at 3:00 p.m.