Oct. 31, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford freshman Allison Stone headed in a cross from sophomore Marian Wagner in the 81st minute to give Samford its first ever regular season conference championship in women's soccer with a 1-0 victory over Jacksonville State Friday night at Bulldog Field.

Samford (12-4-3, 7-1 OVC) entered the match knowing it would take a victory to win the Ohio Valley Conference regular season title and host the conference tournament in Birmingham next week. Second place, Eastern Illinois defeated Austin Peay 4-0 earlier in the day to force the must win situation.

Both teams played outstanding defense in the first half as both teams had just two shots in the first 45 minutes. Samford out shot Jacksonville State (10-4-4, 4-1-3 OVC) 8-5 in the second half and the Bulldogs held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The game-winning goal by Stone was her third goal of the season and her second game-winner. Wagner controlled the ball on the right flank and sent a cross into the middle of the box, Stone headed the ball high and towards the near post out of the reach of JSU goalkeeper Amanda Stevens. It was only the second goal Stevens had allowed in conference play this season. It was Wagner's fifth assist of the year.

"Tonight our forwards played as well as they have all season," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "We knew JSU wasn't very deep and we felt that we could wear them down in the second half, but to their credit, they played very well. JSU is a scrappy team and very difficult to score against. I would not be surprised to see them again in the tournament.

JSU had a chance to tie the match in the 87th minute as a Gamecock player was fouled at the top of the 18-yard box. Breanne Milne took the free kick and sent a bending ball just high over the cross bar.

The Gamecocks best opportunity to score came in the 54th minute again after a Samford foul. Joanna McCaughey headed a cross that Samford goal keeper Crystal Royall made a fine save on to preserve her ninth shout out of the season and the 12th registered by the Bulldogs.

Samford's Lindsay Shanks had the two best scoring chances leading up to the goal. In the 58th minute, Shanks headed a cross from Wagner off the far post. Four minutes later Kim Matthews sent a cross into Shanks and again she hit the post with the header.

With the loss, Jacksonville State finishes third in the OVC and will host a first round tournament match next Tuesday for the right to return to Birmingham for the semifinals. Samford will be the number 1 seed in the tournament and will host a 7 p.m. semifinal match next Friday for the right to play in the Championship Game next Sunday at 2 p.m.