Dayton, TN- The Bryan College Men’s soccer team hosted the Milligan College Buffaloes on Saturday in a game with major Appalachian Athletic Conference implications. The Lions sat one game ahead of the Buffs in the conference standings and were looking to ensure a high seed in the upcoming conference tournament; Win and they were guaranteed at least a third place finish in the regular season standings. A loss and the Lions could finish no better than third.

School was closed for Fall Break and the usually boisterous Bryan College crowd was nowhere to be found. The low key atmosphere combined with a week off between games left the Lions rusty and it was evident early in the first half that the Lions were in for a tough battle. Milligan brought a talented club to Dayton and the Buffs put pressure on the Bryan defenders from the first whistle.

The first half saw Bryan and Milligan pushing the tempo and pressuring both goalkeepers. The visitors looked much faster than the host Lions, and Bryan defenders Nate McCown, Kyle Wagley, Ryon Simon and Daniel O’Kane stepped up to challenge the attacking Buffaloes. The Lion defenders held fast until the 16^th minute when a ball sent into the box was buried in the net beyond outstretched Lions goalie Carlos Sanchez.

Forwards Mano Silva and Carlos Pedro “Jota” Da Silva tried to pressure the Milligan defense, but were turned away time and time again. Milligan continued to play the ball into Bryan’s half of the field and the Buffaloes were rewarded with a second goal just minutes before halftime. 

Reminiscent of the Lions’ only other loss in conference,  at home against Montreat two weeks ago, after a sloppy first half the Lions appeared to be a different team in the second half. Bryan possessed the ball, attacking the Milligan half of the field nearly the entire second period. With just under 20 minutes to play in the contest “Jota” Da Silva finished a ball in the box for his 6^th goal of the season. Milligan 2, Bryan 1 with 18:52 to play.

The last 18 minutes of the game were fast paced and intense as the home club pushed forward in hopes of finding the equalizer. A booming free kick from Daniel O’Kane sailed just high of the cross bar as another Bryan attack was turned away. The Lions continued to put pressure on Milligan, and Forward Mano Silva had an open look just outside the 18 that missed wide left. The breaks were not going the Lions’ way.

As the clock dwindled down, Bryan began pushing everyone, including their defenders, forward in hopes of creating a mismatch and finding a desperation goal. Milligan played a long ball over the top and Forward Josh Stephens was able to chip the final goal of the night in the back of the Bryan net over Bryan Goalie Carlos Sanchez.