Season Preview: 2024 Men's Soccer
MILLIGAN, Tenn. – After a trip to the ultimate match of the 2023 season, the NAIA National Championship, the Milligan University men's soccer team will be gunning to make its fifth consecutive trip to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round in the 2024 season. After coming up just short of the program's largest goal, the Buffs hope to rally again in year two of head coach Paddy Sweeney's reign.
The Buffs open the season on the road at NCAA Division III Warren Wilson College (N.C.) on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. in Asheville.
2023 Season Review: The Buffs became back-to-back Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) regular-season champs, notching an undefeated 10-0-3 record in the AAC. They claimed their first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament title since 2006 in the process, as the Milligan coasted into national play.
In the AAC Tournament, the Buffaloes advanced past Reinhardt 1-0 in the quarterfinals and St. Andrews 1-0 in the semifinals, before dismantling Tennessee Wesleyan in the final, 4-0. The squad did not allow a goal in the tourney.
The run to the national title bout started at the Opening Round site of William Carey University (Miss.), where the No. 19 Buffs snatched a 2-0 win over the then No. 10-ranked squad in the land.
Then, at the Final Site in Wichita, Kan., Milligan toppled No. 6 Mobile in the Round of 16 in a 1-1 tie that went to penalty kicks. They prevailed by a tally of 4-2 in PK's. In their ensuing Quarterfinal, the Buffaloes obtained another tight victory, nabbing a 2-1 triumph over (RV) Bellevue. They then outplayed No. 3 St. Thomas in a 1-0 win in the Semifinal.
In what was a very tight national title game, the Buffs could not quite manage to pull off the unbelievable feat of winning a national championship. They fell 2-1 to No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene.
The Buffs outscored opponents 90-19 in 24 games and led the conference in goals against average (0.71) and shutouts (10). Milligan ranked No. 2 in the nation in goals (90) and assists (56) and were atop the nation in corner kicks (162).
The Buffs had eight players named to all-conference teams and Inaki Moreno was tabbed as the AAC Player of the Year and as an NAIA All-America First Team honoree.
"It was a great year," said Sweeney. "The boys made some amazing memories that will stay with them for a long time."
2024 Preseason Poll: The Buffs earned the top spot in the AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with all 13 first-place votes. Additionally, they were recognized as the nation's No. 2-ranked squad in the NAIA Preseason Poll.
2024 AAC Men's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
1. Milligan (13) - 182
2. Union Commonwealth - 167
3. Tennessee Wesleyan - 153
4. Columbia International - 133
5. St. Andrews - 118
6. Truett McConnell - 114
7. Reinhardt - 108
8. Bryan - 102
9. Montreat - 77
10. Pikeville - 73
11. Columbia - 44
12. Johnson - 42
13. Bluefield - 38
14. Kentucky Christian – 14
Key Returners: In 2024, the Buffs will retain seven of their top 10 scorers from 2023 and have loads of experience to build upon last year's success.
"We are really excited to have Simen, Clay, Hayden and Albert back with us," Sweeney said, "especially due to their experience and leadership."
A pair of All-AAC First Team honorees in 2023 are back in the fold, as senior midfielder Simen Haraldstad and senior defender Elies Simo combined for a total of 11 goals and eight assists last year. The two of them will continue to be leaders for the squad in 2024.
Junior midfielder Asa Blake is the leading returning point-scorer for the Buffs squad, having amassed 26 points over the course of 2023. He scored 11 goals and notched four assists in 22 matches played. Throughout his first two seasons, he has scored 23 goals and tallied 53 points overall.
Botswanan senior midfielder Boikaego Mbaakanyi returns after a season with seven goals and six assists. He was named an All-AAC Second Team member, alongside graduate midfielder Jett Carter, who tallied six goals and four helpers.HeH
Senior midfielder Kai Slinn and senior midfielder/forward hybrid Alex Panner are back, as well, The international products from England and Austria, respectively, are coming off a combined 13 goals and seven assists in 2023.
Sophomore goalkeeper Adria Alles started 19 of 24 matches between the pipes in 2023 for the Buffs. He nabbed 68 saves and racked up a sterling .829 save percentage.
Sophomore defender James Bakou, along with graduate defender Albert Montragull will continue to help fortify the back line in 2024. They combined to set up teammates on 10 goals last year, while helping to limit opponents to a miniscule 0.71 goals per game.
A pair of additional graduate players will stay on for 2024, with midfielder Hayden Grubb and defender Clay Gallant joining the Buffs for one last hurrah.
Newcomers: Milligan's roster was boosted by a 17-man recruiting class, including eight transfers and nine freshmen.
"We are really excited to have several local players joining the program for 2024 and beyond," Sweeney stated.
Looking at the Schedule: The Buffs have three nonconference tilts prior to their 13-match schedule in the AAC.
After traveling to Warren Wilson, the Buffs host NCAA Division II King University on Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. to open their home slate. Five days later they close out their nonconference billings with a home matchup against WVU Tech on Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m
Milligan opens its AAC schedule on Sept. 11 against Truett McConnell in Cleveland, Ga. The Buffs play host to CIU at Anglin Field on Sept. 14.
The Buffs will be on the road against the conference preseason poll's No. 2 and No. 3 squads in late October. They will battle (RV) Tennessee Wesleyan on Oct. 19 and will face off with the NAIA's No. 23-ranked squad, Union Commonwealth, on Oct. 23.
The AAC Tournament features the top eight teams in the conference standings and include quarterfinals, semifinals and a championship game. Each postseason game is played at the highest remaining seed. The conference has two automatic bids to the NAIA National Championship, with one going to the regular season champion and another to the tournament champion.
Last Word: "All in all, we have a great group of guys that we feel can rise to the level of play that we reached last season," Sweeney said. "It is up to the guys to continue to play with a team-first mindset and if that happens, the sky is the limit."