Sept. 8, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Three Samford soccer players were named to the all-tournament team of the 2008 adidas Gamecock Classic on Monday as sophomore Paige Lanter and true freshmen Mary Shelton Bryant and Shannon Healy helped guide the Bulldogs to a second-place finish.

Samford (1-4) earned a 1-1 record in the four-team tournament that also included Arkansas, Mercer and was hosted by Jacksonville State.

On Friday, the Bulldogs defeated Mercer, 1-0, before dropping a hard-fought 1-0 double-overtime loss to Arkansas in Sunday's championship match. In the tough-luck defeat, Arkansas scored the winning goal with only 2:30 remaining in the game.

Healy, Samford's freshman midfielder from Crystal Beach, Fla., was named to the all-tournament team of the 2008 adidas Gamecock Classic after scoring the Bulldogs' game-winning goal against Mercer. The goal was the first of Healy's collegiate career.

Bryant and Lanter were each awarded with all-tournament honors for their hard work on the defensive end of the field. Both players were integral factors in the Bulldogs' back line that only allowed one goal in 197:30 minutes of action in the two-day tournament.

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa for a non-conference matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the UA Soccer Complex.

2008 adidas Gamecock Classic
All-Tournament Team

Champion: Arkansas (2-0)
Second Place: Samford (1-1)
Third Place (Tie): Jacksonville State (0-1-1) and Mercer (0-1-1)

Offensive MVP: Kelley O'Connor, Arkansas
Defensive MVP: Kate Kelly, Jacksonville State

All-Tournament Team
Mary Shelton Bryant, Samford
Megan Fawley, Arkansas
Pam Gorham, Jacksonville State
Lauren Hallauer, Arkansas
Shannon Healy, Samford
Kate Kelly, Jacksonville State
Elsa Kurlychek, Jacksonville State
Paige Lanter, Samford
Heather Manting, Mercer
Ali Meek, Mercer
Kelly O'Connor, Arkansas
Olivia Tucker, Mercer