No. 19 Men’s Soccer defeats (RV) Bellevue in NAIA National Championship Quarterfinals 2-1

WICHITA, Kan. (November 30, 2023) – Asa Kai Blake and Alex Panner each scored as the Milligan University men's soccer team defeated (RV) Bellevue 2-1 in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Quarterfinals at Scheels Stryker Sports Complex on Thursday afternoon.

Milligan runs its unbeaten streak to 20-straight games as the Buffs rise to 18-2-4 on the year. Bellevue concludes its season at 14-6-4.

Bellevue nearly scored in the game's opening sequence as the Bruins hit the crossbar in the game's first minute.

The Buffs struck first in the 21st as Albert Montragull served a cross from the left sideline to the right post where Blake headed home his 11th goal of the season to give the Buffs a 1-0 lead.

Bellevue found an equalizer six minutes later as the Bruins got a close-range one-on-one opportunity that Adria Alles stuffed, but the rebound was collected and put in to tie the game at one.

The Buffs earned a penalty kick a foot beyond the 18-yard box with seven minutes left in the first half. Inaki Moreno hooked a shot around the wall but his attempt was snatched by the Bruins' keeper.

Following a late-half stoppage due to a yellow card, Bellevue nearly went ahead with a well-struck shot from the right post but Alles deflected it away in the 40th minute. Alles made another save on the ensuing corner kick.

The game went to the halftime break tied at one. Bellevue owned an 8-3 edge in shots but only a 4-3 margin in shots on goal.

Panner gave the Buffs a 2-1 lead early in the second half. The Buffs worked the ball up the right side, Santiago Corral drove along the right end line, centered a pass to Panner, who blasted a shot past a Bellevue defender and goalie to give the Buffs the lead in the 51st minute.

Blake nearly gave the Buffs an insurance goal in the 56th but an outstanding save by Bellevue's goalie kept the margin a one-goal game. The Bruins nearly found a game-tying tally in 59th but the attempt sailed high.

Milligan earned three corner kicks in three minutes in the 70th-72nd minutes but was unable to add another tally.

In the final 10 minutes, Bellevue made several late pushes. Alles made a leaping save in the 84th on a long-range volley. Greg Anderson had a key tackle in the box to thwart a possible chance.

The ball was loose in the six-yard box and cleared in the 89th minute and following a corner in the final 15 seconds the ball was free but could not be put on frame as the Buffs held on for the 2-1 victory.

Bellevue outshot the Buffs 14-7 while Milligan held a 6-5 edge in shots on goal.

Milligan advances to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Semifinals for the first time in team history and is the first-ever Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) team to reach the national semifinals.

The Buffs will take on the winner of No. 4 Dalton State and No. 5 St. Thomas on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.