Sept. 12, 2001

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Samford senior goal keeper Carrie Ollom record nine saves and freshman Lindsay Shanks scored the game's only goal in the 49th minute as Samford remained undefeated in conference openers with a 1-0 victory over Jacksonville State Wednesday night.

Samford (2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak despite being out shot by the Gamecocks 18-8 and 8-0 in the last 16 minutes of play. It was the Bulldogs first victory at University Field in the program's five-year history.

Ollom was forced to make nine saves giving her 295 career saves. Her best save came in the 77th minute as she made a left-handed save on a breakaway by JSU's Ashley Martin. In the 80th minute Mindy Jones rocketed a shot that Ollom had to dive to her right to keep her clean sheet. The save of the night, however, may have come from the Samford defense. In the 88th minute, JSU's Angela Tribble took a shot at the far post off a short corner kick which beat Ollom, but freshman Heather Pomper was standing on the goal line and chested to ball down and out of harms way.

"That was a fun game for me," said Ollom. "It was one of my hardest games and one of the best games I have ever played in college. Without Sarah (Litteken) I don't know where we would be and Heather saved that ball on the corner kick, the whole back line played well. I am very grateful to have such a good back line. It's fun to make those saves but at the same time it's not. I am glad it could be against Jax State, one of our biggest rivals."

Shanks supplied all of the scoring just four minutes into the second half. Junior Kellie Carmichael made a beautiful sliding tackle to win a ball at midfield and put Shanks one on one with the last JSU defender. Shanks made a move to elude the defender and then beat the on charging goal keeper with an educated left foot to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 advantage. It was Shanks third goal of the season and Carmichael's first assist and first career point.

"Jax State is a good team, I am extremely proud of the way we played tonight." said Samford head coach Barry Spitzer. "This game is always a battle and to win the first conference game of the year is always a good feeling. Carrie played an incredible game and gave us a chance to win."

The last two meetings between Jacksonville State (1-3) and Samford have ended in 1-0 victories by the visiting team. Samford will return home and play its first match of the year at Samford Field on Friday at 6 p.m. against Tennessee Tech.