Men’s Soccer earns 4-0 road win at (RV) WVU Tech

BECKLEY, W.Va. (September 7, 2023) – The Milligan University men's soccer team rolled to a 4-0 victory at West Virginia Tech on Thursday evening in the Buffs' nonconference finale.

Milligan moves to 3-2 on the season with its second road win over a team receiving votes in the NAIA national rankings. WVU Tech, fresh off a victory at No. 8 Georgia Gwinnett, falls to 1-2-1.

The Buffs had a scoring chance thwarted in the 23rd minute with Kai Slinn finding Boikaego Mbaakanyi streaking toward the right post but the WVU Tech goalkeeper prevented a potential goal-scoring cross by knocking the ball out of play.

The Buffs took a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute as Inaki Moreno served a right-angled free kick into the penalty area. Santiago Corral out-jumped the Bears' back line at the left post and headed in his third goal of the season.

Late in the half WVU Tech had multiple corner kick attempts that were diffused by the Milligan defense and had a shot hit the post but the Buffs defense refused to concede a goal. Moreno lined up a long-range shot after a Bears turnover in their own end but it was denied by the WVU Tech keeper.

Jett Carter extended Milligan's lead to 2-0 in the 44th minute as Carter pounced on an errant pass by WVU Tech deep in its own territory and one-timed in his first goal of the season.

The Buffs outshot WVU Tech 7-2 and owned a 6-0 edge in shots on goal through 45 minutes.

The Bears were one touch away from a scoring chance in the 51st minute before the Milligan defense poked a pass out of bounds before WVU Tech could put a point-blank shot on goal. The Bears hit the crossbar on a long-range attempt three minutes later.

Slinn tacked on Milligan's third goal in the 68th minute after beginning and ending the goal-scoring sequence. Slinn connected with Mbaakanyi up the right side, who juked a defender and centered a pass in the penalty area for Slinn to sweep into the lower-left corner for his first goal as a Buff.

Simen Haraldstad scored his first goal since 2021 following a corner kick in the 77th minute to give Milligan a 4-0 advantage.

Ludvig Wille made three saves in the shutout victory. Despite both teams recording 10 shots, the Buffs were 9-3 leaders in shots on goal.

Milligan opens Appalachian Athletic Conference play on Wednesday evening at Anglin Field against WVU Tech.