Men’s Soccer blitzes Johnson 6-1

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (September 30, 2023) – The Milligan University men's soccer scored four second half goals in a 6-1 win at Johnson (Tenn.) on Saturday evening.

The win moves Milligan to 8-2-1 on the season and into sole possession of second place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings with a 5-0-1 record in league play. Johnson falls to 0-7-2, 0-5-1.

The Royals struck first in the 22nd minute as a header at the left post off a corner kick slipped in to give Johnson a 1-0 lead.

Milligan found an equalizer less than five minutes later with a set piece tally. Inaki Moreno took a free kick from the 18-yard box extended near the right sideline and sent a cross into the six-yard box. Moreno's cross connected with Boikaego Mbaakanyi, who headed in his third goal of the season to tie the game at one.

The Buffs took a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute after another free kick from Moreno. Moreno launched another cross from the right sideline into the penalty area where it was headed by Asa Kai Blake at the left post over to the right post where Simen Haraldstad poked in his second goal of the year.

Marius Grytdal nearly had Milligan's third goal with two minute left in the half as he had a right-angled shot get past the keeper but kept out by a sliding play by a Johnson defender. The Buffs outshot Johnson 18-3 in the opening 45 minutes and held a 2-1 halftime lead.

The Buffs sent a barrage at the net for the first 25 minutes of the second half but came up empty despite recording 10 shots, six corner kicks and a penalty kick attempt.

Jett Carter finally broke through to add an insurance goal in the 70th minute and Blake scored in the 75th and 78th minutes to push Milligan's lead to 5-1 in an eight-minute span. Blake scored off a corner kick from Moreno in the 85th minute to bring the margin to the final score of 6-1.

With his three-assist day, Moreno matched Milligan's single-season assist record (14) with seven games remaining in the 2023 regular season.

The Buffs set season highs in goals, shots (42) and shots on goal (21). The Buffs totaled 17 corner kicks on the night.

Milligan hosts St. Andrews on Monday at 5:00 p.m.