Nov. 16, 2007

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Samford University soccer team's record-setting season came to an end Friday as the Bulldogs suffered a 1-0 (2OT) loss to the LSU Tigers in the NCAA Tournament. LSU's Roslyn Jones scored the game-winner during the sixth minute of double overtime.

"This was a tight, tough match and (LSU head coach) Brian (Lee) has a fantastic squad over there," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "With Heather (Birdsell) going out with an injury and without us having Amber (Cress) or Cassie (Applegate), I thought that our younger players stepped up and I couldn't be more proud of them."

Samford (15-5-1) played Friday without the efforts of two of its top scorers in Amber Cress and Cassie Applegate. Both players were inactive due to injuries.

The Bulldogs suffered another setback midway through the first half as senior Heather Birdsell pulled up lame and was also injured. Samford's four-time All-Ohio Valley Conference performer did not return in the game.

"With essentially only playing one sub, we had to play low pressure and absorb their pressure and try to counter off it," said Yelton. "I thought we were successful. We were hard to break down and it's not really the way we normally play, but it was successful for us most of the game tonight."

With its 1-0 double-overtime win, LSU (12-4-7) advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history and will face top-seeded Florida State (14-5-3) on Sunday at noon.

On LSU's game-winning goal, Rachel Yepez rifled a shot from 25 yards out that caromed off the crossbar. On the shot attempt, Samford's goalkeeper Cayley Winters went to her left for the save, but the ball bounded directly to Jones who tapped it in for the score.

The Tigers attempted 27 shots Friday and limited the Bulldogs to six.

Despite being on the defensive for most of the match, Samford nearly picked up the victory at the end of regulation as freshman Leah Leppert sent a shot that just barely to the right of the goal.

In overtime, the teams played even soccer until LSU's game-winning goal. The Bulldogs attacked offensively and sent two shot attempts that nearly won the match.

"I'm so proud of this group of players," said Yelton. "They never made excuses, even tonight, with players out due to injury. That's what you want to teach your kids, that's what you want to teach your players. It's a life lesson, every one in life faces adversity, but it you go on to invest time and energy in it then good things happen for you."

LSU finished the opening period with seven shot attempts and three shots on goal. Samford tallied three shots in the first half, with two being on goal.

The Bulldogs' first scoring opportunity of the opening period occurred during the 17th minute of play. Samford's four-year starter, Birdsell, rattled off a bouncing right-footed kick from 20 yards out that LSU goalkeeper Valerie Vogler bobbled for a moment then covered up for the save.

At 31:18 into the match, Samford tallied its best scoring chance of the opening period as Leppert headed a crossing pass towards the top right corner of the goal. The shot attempt was from 10 yards out and Vogler made a leaping stop to her left to save the goal.

The Samford University soccer team concluded its 2007 season with a record-tying 15 wins and its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three seasons. Next year, the Bulldogs will begin play in the Southern Conference and will return nine starters from this season's team.