MILLIGAN, TN – Carolina University Men's Soccer concluded its 2026 regular season on Wednesday evening, falling 3-1 to Milligan University at Anglin Soccer Field. Despite taking an early lead, the Bruins were unable to hold off a second-half surge from the Buffaloes, dropping their regular season finale as they now await their postseason fate.
Although Wednesday's matchup was a non-conference contest, it carried significant importance for Carolina as the Bruins look to secure a spot in the upcoming Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Tournament, scheduled for November 8-10 and hosted by Georgia Gwinnett College. With only the top four teams earning a place in the tournament, Carolina entered the match looking to build momentum heading into the postseason.
The Bruins opened the contest with an aggressive offensive approach, creating opportunities throughout the first half. Carolina broke through in the 31st minute when Kyryl Dmytryk found the back of the net at the 30:26 mark, recording his team-leading 10th goal of the season and giving the Bruins a 1-0 advantage.
Carolina maintained its one-goal lead heading into halftime, with goalkeeper Isaac Bunton helping preserve the advantage with a first-half save. The Bruins entered the break looking to carry their momentum into the final 45 minutes.
Milligan responded in the second half, finding the equalizer in the 60th minute when Javier Salgado scored off an assist from Drew Shelton to even the contest at 1-1.
The Bruins continued to battle offensively, generating six second-half shots as they searched for the go-ahead goal. Carlos Ramirez provided a spark off the bench, recording two shots on goal, while Sonny West finished with a team-high three shot attempts.
However, Milligan capitalized on its opportunities late in the contest. Drew Shelton broke the deadlock in the 84th minute, giving the Buffaloes a 2-1 advantage. Just over a minute later, Ilija Dordevic added an insurance goal off an assist from Marcelo Marotta, extending Milligan's lead to 3-1.
Carolina finished the evening with 10 total shots, including four on goal, while Milligan recorded 12 shots and four on target. Bunton played all 90 minutes in goal for the Bruins, recording one save.
With the loss, Carolina concludes its regular season with an 11-4-1 overall record.
Head Coach Craig Golding reflected on the team's effort and the uncertainty surrounding its postseason opportunities.
"This was a disappointing result, especially after putting ourselves in a good position with the first-half lead. We competed well for stretches of the match, but at this point in the season, we have to be able to finish games and execute in critical moments. I'm proud of the work this group has put in throughout the regular season, and now we have to wait and see where things stand with the conference tournament. If we get that opportunity, we need to be prepared to make the most of it." — Head Coach Craig Golding
Up Next
Carolina University now turns its attention to the Continental Athletic Conference Tournament, scheduled for November 8-10 at Georgia Gwinnett College. With only the top four teams qualifying for postseason competition, the Bruins will await the final conference standings and official tournament selections to determine whether their 2026 season will continue.
For the latest updates on Carolina University Men's Soccer and postseason information, visit the official Carolina University Athletics website.
