Nov. 7, 2008

Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Samford University soccer team's quest for a third NCAA Tournament appearance in four seasons came to an end Friday as the Bulldogs were knocked out of the 2008 Southern Conference Tournament by the Western Carolina Catamounts 1-0 at the Patriots Point Athletic Complex.

"I'm extremely proud of our players and I thought they worked hard tonight," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "It was a very difficult game for us to play and there really wasn't any kind of flow to it. It was a very service-oriented game and I have to give Western (Carolina) a lot of credit. They got on the positive end of one and were able to beat us 1-0."

With the hard-fought loss, Samford concluded its 2008 campaign with a 9-9-3 overall record. The Bulldogs finished their inaugural season in the SoCon with an 8-1-2 mark.

The defeat also marked Samford's first loss since Oct. 3. Prior to Friday's match, the Bulldogs had compiled a nine-game undefeated streak.

The second-seed Western Carolina (13-7-1) advanced to Sunday's championship match where it will face the top-seed UNC Greensboro at 11 a.m. (CT). Earlier on Friday, UNC Greensboro used a penalty-kick shootout to topple the fifth-seed Furman, 4-2.

With Friday's win, Western Carolina extended its undefeated streak to three-consecutive games.

After the Bulldogs and Catamounts played to a scoreless first half, Western Carolina tallied the game-winning goal of the match during the 51st minute of play. On the decisive score, junior Rachael Shomper lofted a soft looping attempt barely over Alyssa Whitehead's head.

The shot, which was taken from approximately 20 yards out, seemed to slip off the side of Shomper's foot and appeared to be heading over the top of the crossbar. Shomper's shot attempt skied high into the air and looped luckily over Whitehead's outstretched arms.

The goal was Shomper's third of the 2008 campaign and was assisted by junior Nikki Lombardo. The helper was Lombardo's second of the season.

"Western Carolina is a difficult team to play because they put you under tremendous pressure and they hit tons of service attempts," Yelton said. "Whenever the ball gets in the mix like that then anything can happen. I have to give full credit to their player (Shomper). She put a foot on it and was able to get the goal. It was kind of a crazy goal, but they're going to the finals and we're going home because of it."

Western Carolina finished the match with five shot attempts and two shots on-goal. Samford ended the game with four attempts, all of which were on-goal. The Bulldogs' Leah Leppert, Hilary Samuels, Brittany Gordon and Mary Shelton Bryant all rattled off shots for Samford.

The teams fought to a scoreless first half of soccer Friday. Both teams took advantage of their defensive prowess and only a total of two shots were attempted in the first 45 minutes of play.

Samford tallied the only shot on-goal of the first half. With approximately five minutes remaining in the opening period, the Bulldogs' Gordon headed a crossing pass from the right flank towards Western Carolina's net. On the play, the Catamounts' goalkeeper Caitlin Williams made the lone save of the half.

Western Carolina's only shot attempt of the opening period was attempted by Kayla Beauduy. Both teams were credited with two corner kicks in the first half, while the Bulldogs were whistled for one more foul than the Catamounts, 6-5.

The Samford University soccer team concluded its 2008 season with a 9-9-3 overall record. The Bulldogs tallied an 8-1-2 SoCon mark and qualified for the semifinals of the 11-team league in their inaugural season in the conference.

Next year, Samford will return all 11 starters from this year's squad and will also boast the services of 11 additional letterwinners.

"I think that the future is very bright for us," said Yelton. "We have a tremendously young squad and we have great team chemistry. Our players are great individuals and I think they are a talented lot."