Sept. 29, 2002

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Allison Provine and Marian Wagner scored 70 seconds apart as the Samford Bulldogs guaranteed themselves a winning season with 2-1 victory over Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon.

Samford recorded its first win over Mississippi State in six tries and its first win over an SEC opponent in seven tries. Samford improved to 10-1-1 on the season breaking the school record for wins in a season of nine set in 1999 when the Bulldogs finished 9-8-2. Mississippi State, the defending SEC West champions, dropped to 3-7 on the season.

After a scoreless first half, Wagner got in behind the MSU defense and fired a shot that was saved by Courtney Hubert. The rebound went to Provine who finished with a shot into the open goal in the 55th minute. Seventy seconds later Lindsay Shanks sent a through ball into Wagner who was 1-on-1 with the keeper this time Hubert could not make the save and Samford led 2-0.

Mississippi State cut the lead in half in the 77th when Betty Ann Casey got behind the Samford defense and placed a shot off the far post and into the goal past Crystal Royall. MSU out shot Samford 24-6, but Royall made eight saves and while only allowing the one goal.

Wagner and Provine were the only Samford players to register shots as each player took three. Provine's goal was her first of the season while Wagner's goal was her fifth in the last six matches.

"I thought we showed tremendous character, playing our third game in five days," said head coach Todd Yelton. "It has been the character of this team to find a way to win and we did that again today."

Samford will have some time to rest before returning to Atlantic Sun play on Saturday. The Bulldogs will return home to face Jacksonville in 7 p.m. match.