Milligan Punches Ticket to NAIA Semifinal Round

(Jeff Melton of the NAIA contributed to the release)

WICHITA, Kan. - Milligan ran its unbeaten streak to 20 matches as the Buffaloes defeated the Bruins of Bellevue (Neb.) 2-1 in the 2023 NAIA Men's Soccer Championship quarterfinal round on Thursday.

The tournament is being held at the Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita, Kan.

The win sends Milligan to the semifinal round for the first time in program history and also marks the first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) men's soccer team to be one of the last four teams. Previously, two other teams advanced to the quarterfinal round - former member Covenant (Ga.) in 2002 and Union in 2016.

Milligan advances to face the winner of No. 4 Dalton State (Ga.) and No. 5 St. Thomas (Fla.) on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

Here are some match notes/highlights:

• Milligan continued its Final Site trend of scoring first in the match, going up 1-0 in the 21st minute
• With the ball on the end line, Albert Montragull shifted it to his right foot and lofted the ball in front of the face of the goal; Asa Kai Blake got in front of the Bellevue back line to head the ball into the ball and score his 11th of the year
• Moments after checking into the game, Alvaro Moros Sanz knocked in the ball off the Buffaloes keeper's deflection of Sanz's initial shot
• Antonio Capra was not credited for the assist, due to the first shot attempt being saved by Adria Alles, but he created the two-shot sequence for Sanz
• At the intermission, BU had an 8-3 edge in shots taken, forcing MU to lead 3-2 in saves
• Bellevue had a 2-0 margin in corner kicks and was also whistled for four more fouls
• Milligan once again went in front, just 5:21 into the second period, as Blake beat his defender down the right side and fed the ball into the box; Santiago Corral gave up the ball to his teammate Alex Panner – who had the better angle – and put the Buffs up 2-1
• Bellevue had two last-chance attempts within the final 90 seconds as they desperately needed an equalizer to force overtime
• In totality, the Bruins outshot the Buffaloes 14-7, but the key difference was Milligan put six shots on goal
• Both keepers had four saves, but none more important than the impressive work by Alles (W, 12-1-4) down the stretch; Taariq Ganga (L, 14-6-4) ends his campaign with two allowed in six chances
• Inaki Moreno and Blake both put two shots on frame to lead Milligan; Sanz posted a game-high three attempts for Bellevue