Oct. 19, 2002
Box Score
BOCA RATON, FL - The Samford Bulldogs clinched a spot in the Atlantic Sun Soccer Tournament despite falling to Florida Atlantic 1-0 Saturday in Boca Raton, thanks to Mercer's first conference victory of the season over Gardner-Webb.
Florida Atlantic's (10-4, 6-1) Trina Maso de Moya scored on a penalty kick in the 62nd minute for the only goal of the match as FAU recorded its fourth consecutive shutout. Meanwhile in Macon, Ga., Mercer's Helena Flock scored a goal that gave Mercer a 1-0 victory over Gardner-Webb and secured Samford's spot in the tournament.
Samford fell to 12-4-1 and 6-3-1 in the Atlantic Sun. The Bulldogs have dropped two straight 1-0 matches and head into their final A-Sun match against UCF on Monday. That match will be for seeding only as the top six teams in the conference have all secured their post-season invitations.
Early in the first half, Kelly Christoffer drove a header towards the goal off a corner kick that nearly scored. Minutes later Julie Feruson had two shots that missed for FAU (10-4, 6-1). Florida Atlantic coach Brian Dooley credited Bulldog sophomore Crystal Royal lfor keeping FAU off the scoreboard for most of the night.
"Their goal keeper made some spectacular saves," Dooley said after the game. In all Royall had 10 saves.
A hand-ball in the 62nd minute in the Bulldog's box resulted in the only goal of the Maso de Moya buried the penalty kick into the lower right corner of the goal. It was the 10th goal of the season for the transfer from Wake Forest.
The lone goal was as much support as FAU's Molly Keating needed in recording her seventh win and fourth shutout of the season. FAU out shot the Bulldogs 21-11 and Keating made six saves.
With the victory the Owls secured their invitation to the conference tournament. Jacksonville, UCF, Florida Atlantic, Jacksonville State, Georgia State, and Samford will be making the trip to the tournament starting November 7 in Buies Creek, North Carolina.
Samford plays its final A-Sun match on the season on Monday at UCF in a 2 p.m. ET start.
