Sept. 27, 2002

Box Score

OXFORD, Miss.-- Two of the final 14 undefeated teams in the nation met at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium Friday night and the 417 fans that showed up were treated to a battle. Ole Miss' Kelly Renie scored the match's only goal in the 60th minute to lead the Rebels to a 1-0 victory over Samford.

Ole Miss (8-0-1) controlled the run of play through out the match but the Samford (9-1-1) defense took everything the Rebels throw at them, which was a lot. Mississippi out-shot Samford 20-5. Samford goal keeper Crystal Royall made nine saves.

Renie's goal in the 60th minute was a controversial one. Ole Miss keeper Brittany Gillespie made one of her two saves on the night and began the Ole Miss counter attack. The Rebels beat the Bulldogs down the field. Karen Hall took a shot from 15 yards out that was saved by Royall. The rebound bounced off a couple of players in front of the goal before Royall grabbed the ball off the line. The center referee ruled the ball had crossed the line and Renie was awarded the goal.

"Our kids never quit. I think we proved that we can play with anyone when we put forth our best effort." head coach Todd Yelton

Jen Bradbury had a chance to tie the match in the 78th minute when she blocked a clearing pass and found herself behind the Ole Miss defense. Her shot however sailed high and wide of Gillespie. In the 80th minute Skye Dregalla sent a ball into the box that Marian Wagner got a foot to and sent wide of goal. The Bulldogs best chance came in the 87th minute. Wagner sent a ball into Lindsay Shanks who beat Gillespie with a shot inside the right post, but the linesman had the offside flag was up and the goal was disallowed. The Bulldogs mounted one last chance as Shanks played a ball back to Dregalla who blasted a 20-yard shot which was saved by Gillespie.

"I am unbelievably proud of the way we played against a team that should be ranked in the top 25," said Samford coach Todd Yelton. "Our kids never quit. I think we proved that we can play with anyone when we put forth our best effort."

Samford's Hayley Kolb saw her first action of the season after an injury suffered in preseason. The Bulldogs still have not allowed more than one goal in any game this season. The Bulldogs were shutout for the first time in 15 matches.

Samford will return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. when they face Mississippi State in Starkville. That match will be broadcast live on www.samfordsports.com with the pregame beginning at 12:50 p.m.