Sept. 25, 2002

Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Samford freshman Marian Wagner found the back of the net with a diving header in the 105th minute as the Samford Bulldogs beat Gardner-Webb 2-1 in double overtime to move their unbeaten streak to 10 games at Varsity Field Wednesday afternoon.

Samford improved to 9-0-1 on the season and 4-0-1 in Atlantic Sun Conference play while Gardner-Webb drops to 4-5 and 2-2 in conference play.

Wagner, who has scored a goal in each of her last four matches, scored her second overtime goal of the season with an assist from Lindsay Shanks. Kelly Christoffer sent in a long ball from the midfield that Shanks chipped toward goal. Wagner dove to get her head on the ball and placed it into the left-side netting for the game winner.

Shanks scored the Bulldogs first goal of the match to tie the score at 1-1 in the 67th minute. Keala Ryan sent in a free kick from 35-yards that Shanks one-timed past the Gardner-Webb keeper. It was Shanks' eighth goal of the season and the 17th of her career tying her with Hayley Kolb and Lindsay Anglin for second on the Bulldogs all-time list. Ryan now has a team-high three assists on the season.

Lindsay Shanks had a goal and an assist at Gardner-Webb

Gardner-Webb scored the first goal of the match in the 57th minute as Leeanna Woodworth scored off assists from Amber Bolick and Kim O'Brien. Bolick came forward from her defensive position and played a ball up the left side to O'Brien, who put it into the middle for Woodworth. Woodworth took a couple of touches then fired from about 15 yards out to put GWU up 1-0.

Samford had a golden opportunity to win the match in the in the first overtime, as GWU keeper Edie Hering leveled Samford `s Audrea Youngman in the box for a yellow card, setting up a penalty kick in the 95th minute. Christoffer placed the shot lower right, but Hering made a diving save, smothering the ball and keeping the match a 1-1 affair.

"We are a blue-collar, hard working team. We are not going to score a lot of flashy goals but hopefully at the end of the day we'll have more goals than our opponents." Head Coach-- Todd Yelton

GWU had a couple of chances in the second overtime, but keeper Crystal Royall, who leads the A-Sun in goals against average, thwarted both. Shortly into the last period, GWU's Dawn Zimmerman took a shot from 25 yards out that Royall was able to get her fingers on and knock over the crossbar. A few minutes later, Zimmerman got a head on a corner kick, but the ball went right to Royall, who wrapped it up to stymie GWU yet again. Samford went downfield and scored on the ensuing possession to emerge victorious. The Bulldogs have now won three overtime matches and have played overtime in four of their last six matches. The win equals Samford's school record for win in a season with nine.

"We will play as long as it takes to get a W," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "My hats off to Gardner-Webb. Their coach had them well prepared. We need to do a better job of putting away chances but it is always good to win on the road. I think the character of this team is coming out. We are a blue-collar, hard working team. We are not going to score a lot of flashy goals but hopefully at the end of the day we'll have more goals than our opponents."

Samford will step out of conference for its next two matches. The Bulldogs will travel to Oxford, Miss., on Friday to do battle with an unbeaten Ole Miss team. Ole Miss and Samford are two of just 12 undefeated teams in the nation. On Sunday, Samford will meet Mississippi State in Starkville. That match will be broadcast live on www.samfordsports.com at 1 p.m.