Blake White Does it Again!

Elizabethton, TN - With only one week left in the season, the Eagles are scrambling for postseason positioning and every win, loss, or tie can really affect where the team finishes. Although it is not ideal, the Eagles were able to save the game from being a loss from a second-half goal by Blake White.

First Half

The Buffaloes would get things going early against Reinhardt scoring the first goal in the fourth minute of the game, however, that would be all that they could get by Niko Tzevelekos and the Eagles' defense. For the majority of the first half, the attack was relentless against Tzevelekos and Milligan fired 15 total shots against him. Not all were on target, but that is still a high number and very difficult to defend for an entire half. The Buffaloes would have 20 total shots for the game - 11 that were on goal and Tzevelekos only let the one ball get by him early. He had 10 saves in the game, which help keep the Eagles in the game.

The Eagles' offense had trouble getting the ball down the field in the first half and they were only able to get one actual shot on goal. The attack was probably on the Eagles' end of the field for 75% or more in the first half, which makes things very tough and tiring on the defense, but they all hung in there to keep the game in hand and go into halftime with just the one goal deficit. 

Second Half

The Eagles would come out more "attack-minded" in the second half and the pressure on the Eagles' defense let up from the attack going the other way. The Eagles increased their shots to 8 total in the second half, which tested Milligan's keeper. Blake White would finally get the goal the Eagles needed in the fifty-third minute of the game and gave life to the Eagles' offense. The game momentum changed for the Eagles in the second half and they started controlling the ball - working it down the sidelines for chances on goal. White's goal would come from a rebound shot after his first attempt was blocked. The ball rolled perfectly back to the incoming White who literally slammed the ball past the Buffaloes' whole defense in a quick and rapid motion.

The second-half goal was a big relief for the Eagles, but they still had a lot of time to try to get another. They also had to make sure not to let their guard down and give up an easy goal to Milligan and have to chase the rest of the game. The Eagles hung strong and kept their attack going, but they were not able to get another score for the game.  The game would end with the score tied 1-1. 

Wrap Up

The top of the table is very crowded with teams separated by one or two wins. The four conference ties do hurt the Eagles somewhat, however, they are better than receiving defeats and gaining zero points. Union is sitting at the top temporarily, but much will change over the next week. With a couple of wins in the final two games of the regular season, the Eagles would have a chance to be one of the top three teams in the league. A lot has to play out over the next week with the top half of the table so the final two games are very important. Montreat will come into Ken White Field on Wednesday evening this week and then the Eagles will wrap things up for the regular season on the road at Kentucky Christian.

Blake White's goal gives him six total on the season, which is second to Pavel Dashin who has 8 total. Both have a shot at reaching double-digit goal totals for the season.

The Current AAC Men's Soccer Standings