Aug. 3, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford's all-time leading scorer Mitzi Mahan has earned a position on the Langford Ladies professional club team just outside of London. Mahan was a four-year letter winner and was a 1999 second-team All-TAAC selection for the Bulldogs. She graduated in May of 2000 with a degree in Health and Fitness.

Mahan is one of two American players who tried out for the team which plays in the English First Division. "I am extremely proud of Mitzi," said Samford head soccer coach Barry Spitzer. "She is a talented player who I think will play well for Langford. I think it shows the quality of players we have at Samford to see a player play professionally from a program that is only four years old."

The Langford club found Mahan a job working as a fitness instructor while she plays for the club. "I am excited about being able to continue playing over here," said Mahan. "The play is more aggressive but the quality of play is about the same as in the States."

Mahan will make her professional debut on Sunday as a starter in a friendly match against the Arsenal club. Arsenal won the Premier Division last year and is thought of as one of the top clubs in England.

Langford head coach Steve Chamberlin is excited to have Mahan on his side, "Mitzi has fit in very nicely over here not only with her personality which is quite bubbly, but also with her style of football. She is very good not only at scoring goals, but also at setting up the players around her. We are very excited to have her and we look forward to building a relationship with Samford so hopefully other players will follow in her footsteps."

Mahan scored 23 goals in her career at Samford. She holds records for most goals in a game with four against Alabama A&M, most assists in a season (9), and most shots in a season.(61) She also holds records for most points in a game (9), in a season (21), and in a career (66). Mahan was a member of Samford's first ever time in 1997 and finished her career with six goals and five assists last season.