Women’s Soccer downs Pikeville 1-0 in AAC Tournament

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (October 31, 2023) – The Milligan University women's soccer team scored a 1-0 victory over Pikeville in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament's first round at Anglin Field on Tuesday evening.

The Buffs clinch a winning record for the 2023 campaign as Milligan rises to 10-8-1 on the year. Pikeville concludes the season at 6-11-2.

The Buffs had the first prime scoring opportunity of the game with Lauren Hawkley sending across through the 18-yard box. Grace Baldwin had a point-blank attempt stuffed by the Pikeville keeper and her follow-up attempt flew wide left.

Hawkley appeared to put the Buffs ahead with a tap-in in the 10th minute on a pass from Angeleena Waaland but the sideline official's flag was up to rule Hawkley offside.

Hawkley ran onto a ball beyond Pikeville's back line by Emma True and juked the Bears' keeper, however her angle was too wide for her shot to get on frame in the 17th minute.

Natlie Roper flicked a pass beyond Pikeville's defenders to Hawkley in the 28th minute but her one-on-one attempt sailed high.

The Buffs finally broke through in the 29th minute with Angeleena Waaland breaking away from Pikeville and beating the Bears' goalkeeper to give the Buffs a 1-0 lead.

The Buffs were awarded a free kick just beyond the 18-yard box in the final minute of the half and had an attempt blocked before time expired in the period. The Buffs outshot Pikeville 9-3 in the first half (4-1 SOG).

Millgan staved off a couple of offensive forays by Pikeville early in the first half. Waaland ran onto a pass from Hawkley, dusted a defender and hit the crossbar in the 58th minute.

Knowles had a shot saved in the 61st and Roper stepped into a blast that was saved in the 64th.

Akyla Walcott snatched a looping cross on a free kick out of the air in the 85th minute. The Bears were unable to generate a scoring change in the final minutes as the Buffs advanced with the 1-0 victory.

Milligan outshot Pikeville 15-6 (9-2 SOG) and had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.

Waaland scored the game-winning goal over the Bears for the second time in four days and tallied a goal for the fourth-straight game.

The Buffs advance to the AAC Tournament quarterfinals. Milligan will travel to second-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.