CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. –
Inaki Perez gave Campbellsville University an early lead Saturday, but Milligan University scored twice before halftime and added a second-half insurance goal to defeat the Tigers 3-1.
- Campbellsville outshot Milligan 17-8, including an 11-5 advantage in the second half, but the Buffaloes converted three of their six shots on goal.
- Perez scored in the ninth minute and led the Tigers with four shots, placing two on target.
- Campbellsville struck the crossbar four times, with Ollie Jagroop and Perez hitting the woodwork before halftime and Jon Magnusson doing so twice after the break.
- The Tigers generated five consecutive corner kicks between the 21st and 43rd minutes and finished with a 7-5 advantage in corners.
- Campbellsville attempted eight of the match's final nine shots, placing three on goal during its pursuit of a late response.
- Malthe Schou made three saves, including stops in the ninth, 40th, and 81st minutes.
- The Tigers' 17 shots came from 11 players, with Perez, Magnusson, Alessandro Martinez, Izan Garcia Gancedo, Jagroop, and Malte Ekman each attempting multiple shots.
Schou made the match's first save, denying Grayson Hammond in the ninth minute. Campbellsville moved ahead seconds later when Perez scored unassisted at 8:51.
The Tigers nearly doubled their advantage less than three minutes later, but Jagroop struck the crossbar.
Mark Holton followed with an attempt wide right in the 14th minute.
Campbellsville continued applying pressure through a series of four corner kicks during a four-minute stretch. Perez hit the crossbar at 22:18 before directing another attempt wide in the 25th minute.
Milligan equalized at 33:27 when Ilija Dordevic scored from Freddie Zinn's assist. The Buffaloes moved ahead four minutes later through a Campbellsville own goal.
Schou prevented Milligan from extending its lead before halftime, stopping Felipe Magalhães' header in the 40th minute. Campbellsville entered the break trailing 2-1 despite owning a 6-3 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
The Tigers renewed their pressure in the second half. Magnusson struck the crossbar at 64:09, and Ekman sent the follow-up opportunity wide right six seconds later.
Campbellsville again came close to equalizing in the 75th minute. Martinez had an attempt blocked before Magnusson hit the crossbar for the second time, but Milligan countered, and Trotter Jones scored unassisted at 75:20 to extend the Buffaloes' advantage to 3-1.
The Tigers continued forward after the third goal. Sergi Cruz saved efforts from Ekman and
Mihlali Blesi, while Garcia Gancedo had one attempt blocked and another miss wide right.
Perez produced Campbellsville's final opportunity with a header on target in the 90th minute, but Cruz made his fourth save to close the match.
Campbellsville finished with 17 shots, five on goal, and seven corner kicks, while Milligan recorded eight shots, six on goal, and five corners.
