Buckley challenges Buffs to ‘Be Brave’ as they approach 2019 season

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn (Aug. 26, 2019) – The start of the school year means that soccer is back in action, and the Milligan College women's team will open the season Thursday, Aug. 29, with a home match against North Greenville at Anglin Field. Milligan looks to be a top contender in the Appalachian Athletic Conference this year, with the preseason poll putting them in fourth out of 14 teams.

After a rocky start to the 2018 season with five of their seven losses happening during the first half of the season, the Buffs finished strong, making it all the way to the title match of the AAC tournament but falling to conference foe Tennessee Wesleyan. This was the first time since 2013 that the Buffs advanced to the AAC title match. The Buffs finished last season 11-7-1 overall and 8-4 in conference. Milligan plans to carry over the confidence and the determination that they finished with last season and be a strong competitor among the conference this season.

Coach Lisa Buckley will be entering her 12^th season as head coach for the women's team and is pushing her players to work hard and play above the expectations they have for themselves. "This year we are really challenging ourselves to be brave, to try new things, and play outside of our comfort zone," Buckley says. "When you play bravely there is a lot of risk in that, but there is also a lot of reward."

Key returners | top newcomers

Milligan will return seven of 11 starters from last season, and Buckley expects the incoming freshmen to duplicate and produce the same mentality and energy that the returners have. Bekah Cundiff, who was named to the 2018 All-AAC first team, will look to have a big senior season. Cundiff finished the 2018 season with nine goals and played in all 18 games.

Other returners who will look to make an impact for the team are sophomores Isabella Cranford and Ashlen Burch. Cranford, a solid defensive player who has embraced the confidence and bravery that Buckley has been motivating the team to have during the preseason, will look to build on her game from last year. Burch, who was second in goals last year with seven behind Cundiff, will continue to look for the success that she was able to have during her freshman campaign.

Newcomers that Buckley expects to contribute to the team are Taylor Dawson and Audra Morgan. Dawson joins the team expected to be a strong defender and quickly make an impact in the backfield. Morgan will be looked upon as an attacking player to score goals for the team.

2019 Schedule

Buckley says the conference will be very competitive again this year, with top teams being Tennessee Wesleyan, Reinhardt and Truett McConnell. Wesleyan and Truett are both receiving votes in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. Last season the Buffs lost to all three top competitors in overtime during regular season play, but picked up a win against Truett in the AAC Tournament before falling to Wesleyan in the championship.

Milligan will open up conference play at Point University on September 14. The Buffs split with Point last season, losing to them in the regular season 4-1 and beating them in the first round of the conference tournament 3-2.

Based on the work from last year's season, and the preseason work the team has done, Milligan hopes to make a strong impact this season. Buckley hopes that her team is able to embrace the "Be Brave" theme not only on the field this upcoming season, but off the field as well. "I want my players to be brave on the field but also outside of the athletic arena," she says. "Being brave and bold in their faith even though it may not always be the cool or comfortable thing, be brave in the classroom, ask questions, make your presence known, and be brave in social settings, stand up for what is right even though it may be counter cultural."