Ellie Cachiaras scores twice in the final five minutes to lift Women’s Soccer over St. Andrews 2-1

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (October 20, 2021) – Last-minute heroics by Ellie Cachiaras lifted the Milligan University women's soccer team to a dramatic 2-1 victory over St. Andrews at Anglin Field on Wednesday evening.

Milligan moves to 7-5-1 on the season and earned a critical Appalachian Ahtletic Conference (AAC) win to rise to 6-4-1 in league play. St. Andrews University (SAU) fell to 4-8, 3-7 AAC.

Cachiaras scored twice in the game's final five minutes to help the Buffs stay on track for a top-six seed in the AAC Tournament.

Neither team found the back of the net in the first half as the Buffs outshot St. Andrews 9-3 over the first 45 minutes and held a 3-2 edge in shots on goal.

Alex Thomas nearly netted the game's first goal on a long-range attempt in the 12th minute.

Cachiaras had two shots on target saved in the first half and another one-on-one opportunity sail high over St. Andrews' charging keeper.

Early in the second half, Alia Figueredo raced ahead of the SAU defense and fired a shot on goal that was denied.

Saint Andrews scored in the 67th minute after a Milligan clear attempt was blocked by a Knight, collected by SAU and fired just outside of the reach of Lauren Davies.

Alex Thomas was freed up in the 75th minute for a close-range header that sailed wide left.

In the 86th minute, Taylor Dawson sent a lead pass up the left side onto a streaking Cachiaras , who beat the keeper to the ball and sent home her seventh goal of the year for an equalizer.

In the 89th minute, Makenna Oiler sent another ball ahead from her right back spot to a sprinting Cachiaras beyond the Knights' back line. She converted the one-on-one opportunity to give the Buffs a 2-1 lead with 74 seconds remaining.

St. Andrews hit the crossbar with just over a minute to go and the Buffs held on for a 2-1 victory.

For the game, Cachiaras outshot St. Andrews herself with 7 shots, five shots on goal and two goals. The Knights totaled six shots, four SOG and one goal.

Davies made three saves in net for the win.

Milligan travels to first-place Reinhardt on Saturday. The Eagles are 11-0 in AAC play this season.