Women’s Soccer earns important AAC win at CIU

COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 9, 2021) – The Milligan University women's soccer team earned an important Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) victory at Columbia International University on Saturday evening.

Highlights

Ellie Cachiaras scored twice and Ashlen Burch added a tally of her own as the Buffs defeated CIU 3-2. The Buffs return to .500 at 5-5 overall and 4-4 in AAC play. CIU moves to 7-5, 4-4 AAC.

Both teams nearly found the back of the net in the game's opening minutes. CIU had a free kick find a Ram inside the penalty area in the fifth minute, only to have her shoot roll wide of the right post. A minute later, Autumn Daniels was freed up for a left-footed shot in the sixth minute that sailed just wide of the right post.

In the 16th minute, Cachiaras swiped possession from the CIU back line and entered the 18-yard box with pace. She fired a shot that was blocked by one defender, recovered the shot and had another attempt deflected off the body of a Rams player out of play. The Buffs earned a corner kick from the exchange but could not muster another shot in the possession.

Cachiaras would find the back of the net in the 23rd minute to cap a wild sequence. Milligan was awarded a free kick just beyond the six-yard box and the ball was quickly played by Taylor Dawson to Burch, who blasted a shot into a crowd of defenders. The rebound skittered away from the goal, only to be tracked down by Cachiaras who turned and fired a grounded shot off the inside part of the left post and over the goal line for her third goal of the season.

Burch pushed the Buffs' advantage to 2-0 late in the first half. She ran onto a through ball and raced into the wide right portion of the penalty area and fired a contested sliding shot into the far lower left corner of the net in the 39th minute for her fourth goal of the year.

Milligan led 2-0 at the half after outshooting CIU 6-1 and holding a 5-0 edge in shots on goal.

An offside flag took a second Cachaiaras goal off the scoreboard after another through ball created a breakaway opportunity in the 52nd minute.

Alex Thomas had a long-range free kick saved in the 64th minute and Burch a well-struck shot sail wide right less than a minute later.

A bad break in the 69th minute occurred for the Buffs when a CIU cross skipped off the turf and deflected off the arm of the Milligan defender to award the Rams a free kick. CIU converted to make it a 2-1 game with just over 20 minutes remaining.

The Buffs responded just minutes later as Makenna Oiler sent a ball from the Milligan side of midfield deep into the offensive third. Cachaiaras broke free of the CIU defender and ran onto the ball and beat the charging Rams keeper to the ball and converted a sliding shot into a wide-open net.

Milligan would need the insurance goal as CIU added another tally on a corner kick in the 87th minute. The ball grazed off the head of a Ram and was redirected into the back of the net to make it a 3-2 game with just over two minutes remaining. However CIU could not muster a shot the rest of the way.

The Buffs outshot CIU 14-6 and 9-3 in shots on goal.

Lauren Davies earned the win and made one save for the Buffs. 

Milligan continues AAC play against Bryan at Anglin Field on Wednesday evening.