Sweeney Unveils 2024 Milligan Men's Soccer Schedule
MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University men's soccer program, led by head coach Paddy Sweeney, has released their schedule for the 2024 campaign. After finishing 2023 as the NAIA runner-up, the squad faces a challenging 16-match regular season, while facing an NCAA Division II opponent as part of non-conference play.
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Sweeney's second year at the helm of the Buffs begins on August 17 at 2 p.m., when Milligan heads to NCAA Division I UNC Asheville for an exhibition match, followed by another friendly on August 21 at 6:15 p.m. at nearby Tusculum University. The counting non-conference matches in 2024 will include a trip to Swannanoa, N.C. on August 24 at 5 p.m., where the Buffaloes will battle an NCAA Division III foe, Warren Wilson College. The following weekend, the squad's home opener occurs against Bristol's DII King University on August 31 at 5 p.m. WVU Tech will come to Milligan on September 5 at 7:30 p.m. to round out the Buffs' non-conference billings.
Truett-McConnell University (Ga.) will host the Buffs on September 11 at 6 p.m. to open the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) slate, and the first home conference tilt will follow, as Columbia International University (S.C.) comes to Anglin field on September 14 at 4 p.m. Alternating away and home matches are next on the docket, as Milligan will travel to face Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn. on September 18 at 7:30 p.m., and will host Columbia College (S.C.) on September 21 at 4 p.m. September will conclude with an away match at Bluefield University (Va.) on the 25th at 7 p.m., and a home battle with the Royals of Johnson University (Tenn.) on the 28th at 4 p.m.
After starting October as a visitor of St. Andrews University (N.C.) on the 2nd at 12 p.m., Milligan will have three straight home matches. First, they will face off with Reinhardt University (Ga.) on October 5 at 4 p.m., followed by a midweek tilt against Kentucky Christian University on October 8 at 7 p.m. Then, Montreat College (N.C.) comes to town on October 12 at 5 p.m. The next two bouts will be played on the road, as Tennessee Wesleyan hosts Milligan in Athens on October 19 at 1:30 p.m., then Union Commonwealth plays host to the Buffs on October 23 at 7 p.m. The regular-season finale comes at home against the University of Pikeville (Ky.) at Anglin Field on October 26 at 5 p.m.
The AAC Tournament will occur at the home sites of the higher seeds in each matchup. The top eight conference programs earn a spot in the tourney, with exact dates for the competitions still to be announced. Milligan is coming off an AAC Tournament championship win in 2023 and will be looking to defend that title in 2024.
The NAIA First & Second Round portion of the Men's Soccer National Championship will take place at campus sites from November 21-23, with the 16 bracket victors heading to the final site at Scheels Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan. The Buffs will be attempting to duplicate a magical run through the national tourney again this season.