Sept. 28, 2000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Hayley Kolb has been in the right place at the right time in her first season at Samford University. The 5-2 freshman forward from Gunter, Texas has turned opportunities into goals and has helped Samford women's soccer team set a school record with seven straight wins.

The Bulldogs lost their first two games of the season to Mississippi State and Southwest Texas but have been unbeatable since Sept. 2. At 7-2 and 3-0 in conference, Samford is in a first place tie in the Trans America Athletic Conference standings

Kolb has been a major reason for the Bulldogs success by scoring seven goals during the last seven games. She has already eclipsed Samford's freshman record for goals in a season and still has eight matches left to play. "That's pretty impressive," says Kolb, " I was not expecting that at all. I have just been in the right place at the right time and luckily they have been in really tough games."

Kolb has scored four goals in Samford's last two matches. She had both tallies in the Bulldogs 2-1 victory over Montavello on Tuesday including the game-winner with only two minutes remaining in regulation. "Mitzi Mahan came up to me and said `Alright well try next time not to wait until the last two minutes of the game." said Kolb of the game winner.

Her first collegiate goal came in the 36th minute of the season's third match against Belmont to give Samford a 1-0 lead. Six of her seven goals so far this season have either tied the match or given Samford the lead and she has three-game winning goals including an overtime golden goal against TAAC rival Campbell.

"The first couple of games the forwards were have trouble connecting with the midfield, said Kolb. "We have that figured that out now and we are working together real well. We know who is suppose to run and who is suppose to stay. I think the Belmont match really helped."

Samford's head coach Barry Spitzer knew Kolb had the potential when he recruited her from Gunter High School. "I knew she was capable of being a scorer," said Spitzer. "Now I see that she is capable of even more. Her strength is that she is determined to go towards goal. She plays hard and is not afraid to shoot."

Kolb was drawn to Samford by the campus and the people. "I hadn't heard of Samford before I came up here to visit, said Kolb. "I fell in love with the school because it's gorgeous, I mean we are spoiled here. It's awesome. I think that anybody who comes to visit this school would want to be here. I really liked Coach Spitzer and the girls. It all just kind of flowed together."

Samford is in only its fourth season of women's soccer and Kolb gives a lot of the credit for her play to the seniors who will be the first four-year players at Samford. "The seniors are helping us out because we are freshman and we have never played any of these teams. It helps when they say, this team we don't like , we have to win. That helps me out because I like the rivalry games. I try to work really hard for the girls especially the seniors because it is there last year and once I get to be a senior I want everybody to work hard for me. So I am trying to do the same for them."

Spitzer feels the team attitude has been the key for the current seven-game winning streak. "One player is not going to make us win or lose," said Spitzer. "The theme for the whole team is to try to help your teammates reach their goals." Kolb agrees, "I like the team a whole lot. So I guess I get my enjoyment from working hard for them and seeing them happy."

With all of the success she has had in the first half of the season, Kolb still has high goals for herself. "My overall goal is to have fun and give 100 percent every time I step on the on the field, because I love playing, I love the game. I don't necessarily love practices, but who does? My season goal was to average a goal a game, I didn't realize that was going to be such a high-goal to accomplish," said Kolb.

Samford will put its seven game winning streak on the line on Saturday, when the Bulldogs will host TAAC co-leader Jacksonville State. But win or lose, Kolb has already put her mark on the 2000 season for Samford.