Milligan’s soccer teams celebrated senior night with games against Bryan College on Saturday, Oct. 26, the last day of homecoming week.
The women defeated Bryan 2-0, but the men fell to the opposing team during the first half. The final score of the men’s game was 6-2.
Before both games, the seniors for each team were honored by spectators, teammates and coaches. Those honored on the women’s team were Beckah Cundiff, Alyson McMillan, Nicole Blais, Mechala Blankenship, Dharma Fawbush, and Alexis Williams. During Saturday’s match, Cundiff and McMillan scored the two goals in the first half that won the game.
With this win, the ladies will head into the conference tournament as the number four seed. The team has a first round bye, which pushes them automatically into the quarterfinals where they will face Bryan once again on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The match will be at Anglin Field at 5 p.m.
On the men’s side, the seniors honored were Joel Dominguez, Roberto Fernandez Garrido, Isaiah Goodard-Joseph and Garrett Wertz.
Garrido scored two goals for the Buffs early that night in the second half of play. The first one came after a penalty kick, and the goals were also his NAIA leading 24 and 25 goals of the season. He ranks number one in goals per game, total points and shots on goal per game.
The men will head into the conference tournament as the 7 seed, where they will also face Bryan again in Dayton, Tennessee for the quarterfinals. The match is set for Saturday Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.
In between the two games, SGA held a tailgate next to the soccer field to celebrate senior night and finish out homecoming week. Alexandra Kelley, SGA secretary, explained what the inspiration was for the tailgate. “The coaches of the soccer team requested a tailgate to celebrate senior night and the last home matches for the teams as well as keep the energy up for both teams.”
Headline photo: Members of Bryan and Milligan men’s teams on the field.