Oct. 15, 2009

Check out the latest installment of SamfordSports.com's monthly feature stories which highlight the Bulldogs' talented athletes. October's piece features senior soccer player Amber Cress and was written by Assistant Sports Information Director Zac Schrieber.

Amber Cress - - THE INDIANA EXPRESS

Amber Cress is fast. I mean really, really fast. If you've taken in a match at Bulldog Field over the last four seasons, then there's a good chance you've witnessed the phenomenon. At least once during the contest, you've heard the collective "Oohs" and "Ahs" from the crowd as a blur of white and red streaked down the field to beat the opposition to a ball. Cress, wearing her signature red cleats and Samford's brilliant home whites, would speed past a defender and beat the goalkeeper for one of her 21 collegiate goals.

"I've always tried to use my speed to my advantage," explained the Bulldogs' 5-foot-2 forward. "I've always tried to make sure that my speed is my strongest point. I'm not big enough to really body up with the opponent, so I try to use my speed to either go around them or to go by them."

Cress, who has already scored five goals this season, has consistently made it a habit to go by her opponent. As of Oct. 15, she ranked fourth on Samford's all-time goals-scored list and was only six goals shy of becoming the Bulldogs' record-holder in the category.

"It's always kind of in the back of my mind," said Cress when asked about the possibility of becoming the school's all-time goals leader. "It's something that I've always wanted to reach, but my ultimate goal is that our team does well and we make it to the NCAA Tournament. I want our team to win every game and I want to win the SoCon this season."

With an overall record of 8-1-3, Samford is in the unprecedented position of being in the midst of one of its best seasons in school history, yet facing an unfamiliar risk of possibly not qualifying for the 2009 Southern Conference Tournament. This season, due to recent budget constraints, the SoCon ruled that only the top four teams will qualify for the postseason competition, as opposed to the usual eight.

After a disappointing 0-0 draw with Wofford on Oct. 11, Samford heads into an arduous weekend road trip as the fourth-place team in the conference and a 3-1-2 record.

Most players would be a bit nervous about playing critical SoCon matches at defending-champion UNC Greensboro and third-place Elon, but not Cress. The Bulldogs' gutsy leader constantly displays the fire and confidence that four years earlier made her one of the nation's top recruits coming out of high school.

"After the way we played in our last game, I see us winning from now on," said Cress. "Everybody was pretty mad about it. I definitely see us making the tournament, winning the conference and making it back to the NCAA Tournament."

Cress is a native of Zionsville, Ind., and was also an explosive goal-scorer in high school. While competing for the Carmel United Soccer Club team, she helped lead the Heat to five Indiana State Championships, two regional semifinal appearances and one regional final. Cress was named the Indianapolis Star's Metro North Player of the Year and also garnered the Daily Sun's Player of the Year honors. She played with the Olympic Development Program state team for eight years and was a member of the ODP Region II team for four seasons.

"Amber was one of the first nationally-recognized recruits to come to Samford," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Her final three choices were Duke, UConn and Samford. The day she told me that she was coming here was a fantastic day. It's been a fantastic experience to coach her, and not only is she a very good soccer player, but she's also a wonderful human being."

Cress's ties to Samford University can be traced back to former Bulldog-great Cassie Applegate. Applegate and Cress were classmates at Zionsville High School and Applegate was one of many Indianapolis natives to play soccer at Samford.

"Cassie was two years older than I was and I'd never really heard of Samford until she went here," Cress said. "When I was being recruited, she told me that I should come for a visit, so I came down for a weekend and I loved it. The campus was beautiful, the coaches were very nice and the players really went out of their way to get to know me. I was able to hang out with them and they were very fun."

In choosing to attend Samford over both Duke and Connecticut, Cress began a collegiate career filled with a number of highlights, but one in particular stood out for the electrifying goal-scorer.

"Earlier this season, we were playing at home against Texas State and Missy (Melissa Miller) played a ball perfectly behind the defense that I was able to head over the goalkeeper. That goal stands out for me because I'm so short that I don't usually score too many head goals."

Despite her height, or lack thereof, Cress has consistently proven that competitive fire and speed can be a much more dangerous combination than inches and length. Not only has Samford's striker scored five goals this season, but she has also recorded a team-high five assists.

"We always knew that Amber was extremely fast and had the ability to pressure defenders and get in behind their back line," said Yelton. "The one thing we didn't recognize right away was how intelligent of a soccer player she is. She has the uncanny ability to find gaps in the defense and then has the speed to use that knowledge in order to score."

When asked to use one word to describe herself on the soccer field, Cress took a few moments to ponder and said, "Unpredictable".

Despite his understanding of why opponents most likely take Cress's blazing speed and blinding juke-moves as unpredictable, Yelton took a different take on her ability on the soccer field.

"To me, one of Amber's greatest strengths is that she's predictable," stated Yelton. "I know that every time she steps onto the pitch, that I'm going to get her very best effort. When you have a player that you trust in that manner, it makes you appreciate that player so much more."

Cress will always be appreciated as one of Samford's top goal-scorers, but what sets her apart from most athletes is her determination to win championships.

"The first thing you notice about Amber is that she definitely has a competitive fire," Yelton said. "She wants to be successful and she wants her team to be successful. She's a tremendous leader and a tremendous competitor. Those are the types of players who help their teams win championships and she's definitely left her mark on Samford in a positive manner."

Amber Cress is fast. I mean really, really fast, but despite her exceptional speed, if it was up to her, she would like her senior season to last as long as possible. Not only would it mean that the Bulldogs are advancing deep into the NCAA Tournament, but it would also mean that she could spend some more time with her extended family.

"I love Samford," beamed Cress. "I love all of the girls on the team, and I especially love the coaching staff. This team has always felt like family. I came a long way from home, so they've definitely been my family away from home."