Player Bio: Heather Birdsell

Heather Birdsell

Class:
Graduated

Hometown:
Plano, Texas

High School:
Plano Senior HS

Height:
5-5

Position:
Midfielder

Birthdate:
06/02/1986

Experience:
3VL

* 2006 First-Team All-OVC
* 2005 Soccer Buzz Third-Team All-Southeast Region
* 2005 NSCAA Third-Team All-Southeast Region
* 2005 First-Team All-OVC
* 2005 OVC All-Tournament Team

Very technical player . . . helps maintain a physical presence on the field . . . puts a lot of emphasis on her training . . . works to create opportunities in the attack and wins challenges on defense . . . puts in a lot of hard work . . . makes good tactical decisions off the ball.

Heather Birdsell

2006 (junior): Ranked sixth on Samford's all-time list in goals (15), eighth in assists (11) and ninth in points (41) . . . earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors . . . competed for the Charlotte Lady Eagles of the United Soccer Leagues' W-League and helped lead her team to a 10-4 overall record and a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division . . . started in all 18 matches for the Bulldogs and finished second on the team in goals (4) and third in both assists (3) and points (11) . . . ranked third in the OVC in game-winning goals (2), ninth in shot attempts (50) and 10th in assists (3) . . . led Samford in shots (50) and shots on goal (24) . . . tallied game-winning goals against Birmingham-Southern (Sept. 8) and Eastern Kentucky (Sept. 29) . . . named to the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society which includes juniors and seniors that have achieved a grade point average of at least 3.4 . . . named to Samford's prestigious Dean's List for having a grade point average of at least 3.5 . . . earned her third varsity letter.

2005 (sophomore): Earned third-team Soccer Buzz All-Southeast Region honors . . . named to the third team of the NSCAA's Southeast Region . . . earned first-team All-OVC honors . . . member of the OVC All-Tournament team . . . started in all 23 matches and finished the year as Samford's leading goal scorer (7) . . . ended the campaign tied for first in points (20) . . . led the team with four game-winning goals and finished second on the squad with six assists . . . named the OVC's Offensive Player of the Week Sept. 6 and Oct. 25 . . . finished the season ranked third in the conference in points (20), assists (6) and game-winning goals (4) . . . also ranked fourth in the OVC in goals (7), fifth in points per game (0.87), and seventh in shots (56) and shots per game (2.43) . . . turned in a key multi-goal outing against Austin Peay Oct. 23, as Samford clinched its third straight OVC regular season title with a 4-1 victory . . . member of the Athletic Department's 3.0 Club for finishing the year with a grade point average between 3.0 and 3.49 . . . earned her second varsity letter.

Heather Birdsell

2004 (freshman): Earned first-team All-OVC honors after helping Samford to its second straight regular season title . . . started all 18 matches as a true freshman . . . led the Bulldogs in points (10) and was tied for the team lead in goals (4) . . . was one of Samford's top offensive threats, rattling off a team-high 40 shots . . . scored the game-winning goals against Lipscomb (Oct. 12) and Tennessee Tech (Oct. 17) . . . one of seven Samford freshmen to score at least one goal during the season . . . earned her first varsity letter.

High School: Named the Most Valuable Player for Plano Senior High School in 2003 . . . was also the team captain . . . won the Region III Championship with the North Texas State Soccer Association ODP . . . played for the D'Feeters club team with fellow Samford players Caroline Baxter, Jessika Mejia and Hilary Samuels . . . also lettered in basketball.

Personal: Born June 2, 1986 . . . daughter of Steve and Laurie Birdsell . . . majoring in sports medicine.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH BIRDSELL
I have to admit, I am really good at: Sudoku
Favorite cartoon character: Darkwing Duck
Favorite athlete: Steven Gerrard
Favorite food: sweet potato casserole
Favorite singer/group: Florez

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

My favorite Samford memory is: Beating Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

The one thing I'll miss the most about Samford soccer is: Eating Jason's Deli dinners every day during the preseason.

The most important thing I can tell incoming freshmen is: Be confident in your abilities because God gave them to you. Never stop working because that is what you are called to do. Play for God and not yourself because He deserves all the glory.