Women’s Soccer rallies past Bryan 3-1

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (September 20, 2023) – The Milligan University women's soccer team overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit with three second half goals to defeat Bryan in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play on Wednesday evening.

The Buffs move to 3-3-1 on the season and 2-1 in AAC play. Bryan falls to 2-4-1, 1-2-1 AAC.

After a quiet opening 20 minutes, Bryan had the best early goal-scoring opportunity in the 25th minute. A lead pass found a Bryan forward up the right side and behind the Milligan back line. The Lion player fired a shot in the penalty area that was parried by Milligan goalkeeper Akyla Walcott. The ball trickled toward the left post and Bryan's follow-up shot went wide left.

The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the 28th minute as the visitors sent a looping cross to the left post and headed in the game's first goal.

Kelsey Miller nearly tied the game in the 32nd minute after intercepting a pass from the Bryan keeper and booting a shot while the goalie was off her line but it sailed high. Bryan carried a 1-0 lead into halftime.

Lauren Hawkley tied the game at one in the 52nd minute. Angeleena Waaland sent a corner kick to the left post where Ella Sawa headed a shot on goal. The shot was turned away by the Bryan keeper but the ball ended up at the feet of Hawkley, who powered in her third goal of the season.

Natalie Roper gave the Buffs a 2-1 edge in the 60th minute. Waaland sent a cross to the left side of the box, where the ball was sent back to the right post by Hawkley and poked in by Roper for her fifth goal of the season.

Roper nearly added an insurance goal in the 78th minute as her header hit the left post and her shot off the rebound was saved. She had another one-on-one opportunity turned away in the 82nd minute.

Sawa headed in the Buffs' third goal of the game in the 85th minute off of a left-angled free kick by Hawkley. Milligan held on for the 3-1 victory.

Hawkley had a four-point day with a goal and two assists. Sawa scored and had an assist. Roper led the team with four shots, three on goal, with one tally.

Walcott made three saves in the win. Milligan outshot Bryan 9-1 in the second half and held a 10-4 edge in shots on goal

The Buffs travel to Columbia (S.C.) on Saturday.