Women’s Soccer scores early in 1-1 tie at Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. (October 12, 2022) – Both the Milligan University women's soccer team and Bryan scored in the first five minutes of action and did not score again as the Buffs and Loins drew 1-1 on Wednesday evening.

The result helps Bryan stay ahead of the Buffs in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings. Milligan now sits a 2-6-3, 1-5-2 AAC while Bryan moves to 3-7-2, 2-6-1 AAC.

The Buffs struck in the game's opening minutes as Hannah Chatterton played a cross from the left sideline into Bryan's penalty area. Ashlen Burch poked the ball to Kelsey Miller on the right side and Miller fired in her sixth goal of the season to give the Buffs a 1-0 edge.

Bryan responded of a tally of its own within a minute of game time to knot the score at one. The Lions looked to take the lead on a transition opportunity in the sixth minute but Lauren Davies saved the shot attempt.

The Buffs nearly added a second goal in the first 10 minutes as well as Ella Sawa's long-range attempt was barely redirected by the Bryan keeper and rebound shot by Miller was thwarted by another diving stop.

With about 11:30 to play in the first half, a cross from Miler narrowly missed connecting with a charging Autumn Daniels at the left post.

The teams went into halftime tied at one with even totals in shots (6-6), shots on goal (5-5) and corners (1-1).

Davies preserved the 1-1 score with a full-extension leaping save on an extremely well-aimed free kick from just beyond the 18-yard box in the 63rd minute. A minute later Davies made another save on a long range free kick from the Loins. Davies made another one-on-one stop in the 72nd minute after a giveaway set Bryan up for a possible go-ahead goal.

Kesley Miller freed herself up for a shot at the top of the box, but the attempt missed wide right in the 78th minute.

With eight minutes to go, the Buffs nearly secured a scoring opportunity but the offside flag went up. Immediately after, Miller intercepted a pass in Bryan's back end and fired a shot just off the mark.

The Buffs earned a corner kick with five minutes to go, but a foul while the ball was in the air prevented thwarted an on-target delivery. A mishit ball by the Bryan back line allowed Shelby Knight to attempt a left-angled cross that was caught by the Lions' keeper in the final 90 seconds. Neither team managed a shot in the final two minutes of regulation.

Bryan finished with a 12-9 advantage in shots but both teams attempted seven shots on frame.

The Buffs return home for a Saturday matchup with Columbia (S.C.) at 4:00 p.m. for the first-ever Greene Games on campus. In conjunction with Bank of Tennessee, Isaiah 117 House will have representatives on campus for the game.