Season Preview: 2024 Women’s Soccer
MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University women's soccer team heads into their 2024 campaign after a season of improvements in 2023.
2023 Season Review: The Buffs finished the 2023 season with a 10-9-1 record and a mark of 8-6-0 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. They began 5-2-0 in conference play but ended up losing four of the next five AAC tilts. The final two conference battles of 2023 were victories, and the squad outscored their opponents 10-2 over that span.
In the AAC Tournament first round, the Buffs took down Pikeville by a final tally of 1-0. The Milligan season would end in their AAC Tournament Quarterfinal against (RV) Tennessee Wesleyan.
"It was a step in the right direction with a very young team," said head coach John Newbery. "We showed a lot of progress, and I expect us to continue our upward trajectory towards the top part of our conference."
The Buffs have most of their players returning for 2024, losing only four players to graduation from their 2023 roster.
2024 Preseason Poll: The Buffs were tabbed sixth of 15 teams in the AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll,
2024 AAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) - Total Voting Points
1. Truett McConnell (13) - 223
2. Tennessee Wesleyan (2) - 212
3. Reinhardt - 195
4. Montreat - 175
5. Columbia International - 165
6. Milligan - 145
7. Columbia - 131
T8. Brenau - 113
T8. Bryan - 113
10. Pikeville - 96
11. Johnson - 76
12. Union Commonwealth - 59
13. St. Andrews - 55
14. Bluefield - 37
15. Kentucky Christian - 16
Key Returners: The Buffs return a vast majority of their contributors from last fall.
"We returned a large number of our starting core, which is exciting," said Newbery. "The returning players had a fantastic spring, and they are ready and hungry to get the season started."
Milligan boasts the reigning Freshman of the Year in the AAC in the form of Natalie Roper, who notched 15 goals and seven assists to lead the team in both categories. She was also named to the All-AAC First Team in recognition of her prowess.
Senior Emma True is one of the squad's most dependable defenders, and even chipped in three assists last season. She will be instrumental in the team's success in protecting their net in 2024.
Sophomore Lauren Hawkley amassed 21 points for the season on eight goals and five assists, boasting the second-highest total for a returning player in all three of those categories.
Senior midfielder Kori Barnhill tallied three goals and four assists last year in just seven starts and will be expected to take a leading role this season.
Graduate midfielder Ella Sawa brings ample experience to this young group of players, as the Buffs' captain is relied on to help lead the troops out for every battle.
Junior Mariah Shull and senior McKinna Murr are also back with Milligan after contributing nicely to the cause in 2023. Shull had three goals and an assist, while Murr added a pair of each.
A group of returning sophomores, including Lucy Knowles, Sarah Buckner, Stella Van Beusichem, Grace Baldwin, Nora Pugh and Averil Sanchez, will be relied upon to play a core part in the squad's success moving forward.
Senior goalkeeper Akyla Walcott is back to defend the twine for the Buffaloes, She had a .663 save percentage and amassed a 10-7-1 record for the season with two shutouts.
Newcomers: A pair of transfers and a large class of 17 incoming freshmen give the Buffs additional reinforcements for 2024.
"We have a great incoming class of freshmen and transfers," stated Newbery. "I expect, as long as we are healthy, that the freshmen will add depth and impactful minutes on the pitch."
Looking at the Schedule: The Buffs start with four immensely challenging nonconference games before kicking off AAC play at the two-time defending AAC regular season and tournament champions Truett McConnell on Sept. 11.
The Buffs open the season against national powerhouses in No. 10-ranked Cumberland (Tenn.) on Aug. 24 at Anglin Field and on the road at No. 1-ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) on Aug. 28. A road bout at Dalton State on Sept. 1 and a home matchup with WVU Tech on Sept. 5 round out the nonconference schedule.
Crucial AAC dates include a home tilt on Oct. 5 against Reinhardt and a road game on Oct. 19 against Tennessee Wesleyan.
The AAC Tournament features the top 10 teams in the conference standings and includes a play-in first round, quarterfinals, semifinals and a title game. Each postseason game is played at the highest remaining seed. The conference has two automatic bids to the NAIA National Championship, with one going to the regular season champion and another to the tournament champion.
Last Word: "We have a very hard non-conference schedule," Newbery opined. "Starting with the number ten and number one teams in the nation isn't easy, but we want to challenge ourselves and play the best to really know what we are all about. Our goal is to do better in our conference schedule and make a run deep into the playoffs. Milligan is a university that excels academically and athletically and we want this year's team to reach new heights for the program."