Women’s Soccer secures spot in AAC Tournament with senior night win

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (October 29, 2022) – A second half goal by Shelby Knight delivered the Milligan University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Johnson (Tenn.) and a spot in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament next week.

The senior day and homecoming win caps Milligan's regular season with a 4-8-3 record and 4-7-2 mark in AAC play. Johnson, who could have taken the Buffs' spot in the postseason with a win, falls to 5-11-2, 2-9-2 AAC. The Buffs earned the No. 9 seed in the AAC Tournament and will take on Point in the opening round of postseason play next week.

Johnson had the game's first strong scoring chance as a long-range attempt dinged the crossbar of the Milligan goal in the 19th minute.

In the 22nd, Knight ran onto a ball behind the Royals' back line but mishit her one-on-one attempt with the goalie as it tricked harmlessly into the keeper's hands.

With seven minutes to play in the half Ella Sawa lined up a left-angled attempt and blasted a shot on frame. The shot trickled off the fingers of the Johnson keeper and went over the goal. On the ensuing corner kick, Kori Barnhill fired a rebounded attempt from close range but was denied.

With just over three minutes left in the half a cross from Hannah Chatterton connected with Kelsey Miller a the right post but Millier's header trickled just wide of the net. Millier had another well-paced attempt in the final minute of the half that cleared the goal frame.

Milligan enjoyed a 14-5 advantage in shots at the halftime break.

Shelby Knight broke the scoreless tie with a well-placed heard in the 64th minute. Emma True sent a pinpoint cross the left post and Knight headed the ball into the upper-right corner of the goal.

Ashlen Burch nearly gave the Buffs a two-goal lead as she was freed up with a lead pass but poked her close-range shot wide left.

With under 30 minutes to go, Lauren Davies snatched a high-bouncing ball in the Milligan penalty area with Royals all around her.

Alaina Pemberton put a cross in front of the frame and nearly connected with McKinna Murr but the ball was just out of reach for a potential go-ahead goal with 16 minutes left in regulation.

Johnson attempted only one shot over the final 16 minutes and Davies made the save on the Royals' lone late attempt in the 89th.

Davies made four saves and collected Milligan's fourth shutout of the season.

Milligan travels to eighth-seeded Point on Tuesday for the first round of the AAC Tournament.