Natalie Roper named AAC Freshman of the Year

WALESKA, Ga. (November 6, 2023) – The Milligan University women's soccer team had a pair of freshmen earn all-conference status with Natalie Roper named the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Freshman of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Roper collected All-AAC First Team honors while classmate Angeleena Waaland was named All-AAC Second Team. Both players were key in the Buffs scoring 30 more goals compared to the 2022 season and going from the No. 9 scoring offense in the conference (1.39 GPG) to a top-five scoring unit (2.75 GPG) in 2023.

Roper is the program's fourth newcomer of the year selection but first since 2009. She was the conference's third leading scorer with 15 goals and 37 points. Her seven assists also led the team and tied for sixth in the AAC. Roper had five multi-goal outings and four game-winning goals. She recorded a point in 10 of 14 conference games and totaled 28 points (11G, 6A) in league play.

Waaland earns all-conference laurels after emerging as a key offensive threat for the Buffs over the second half of the season. She ranked second on the roster in goals (11), assists (six) and points (28) to rank six in the conference in points, seventh in goals and ninth in assists. In nine October games, Waaland had seven goals, five assists and four game-winning goals. She scored game-winning goals in conference wins over CIU, Union and Pikeville and in the Buffs' 1-0 AAC Tournament win over Pikeville.

The Buffs placed 13 players on the AAC All-Academic Team with Kori Barnhill, Danielle Calhoun, Autumn Daniels, Taylor Dawson, Mia Brown, Shelby Knight, Kara McDaniel, Audra Morgan, McKinna Murr, Alaina Pemberton, Emma True, Akyla Walcott and Makenna Wilkins collecting academic honors. Dawson was the Buffs' Champions of Character Team honoree.

The Buffs finished with a 10-9-1 record for the program's sixth winning season in the last seven years. Milligan posted an 8-6 conference record and earned the No. 7 seed in the conference tournament. The Buffs reached the quarterfinal round of the AAC Tournament.