Sept. 14, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - .- Samford and South Alabama played to a 0-0 tie in the Bulldogs final match of the UAB/Nike Classic at West Campus Field Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (3-1-2) defense has not given up a goal its last 348 minutes of play. Goal keeper Crystal Royall recorded her third-straight shutout as she now has a goals against average of 0.32. Samford out-shot South Alabama 14-9.

"We are doing everything right except for the most important thing, which is putting the ball in the net," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Our defense has been outstanding all year, but if we are going to get it done on that end we need to get it done on the other end. I thought Kelly Christoffer played great all weekend."

Christoffer, who had the game-winning goal on Friday night against Georgia Southern almost, had another one on Sunday. In the 73rd minute after a Jaguar foul, Heidi Kearns free kick found the head of Christoffer who headed the ball towards goal but was cleared by the Jag defense. The Bulldogs had another chance in the 78th minute when Allison Provine crossed a ball that Lindsay Shanks headed but was saved by the USA keeper.

South Alabama (2-3-1) had the matches' first scoring chance in the sixth minute when a throw in by Alyx Portier hit the goal post on a couple of bounces before being cleared away by the Samford defense. Lori McDonnell rifled a shot on the ensuing counter attack that hit the cross bar. The Bulldogs continued to pressure the USA defense winning a corner kick in the 10th minute that produced a pair of shots.

The Bulldogs continued to own the run of play through most of the first half. In the 21st minute Shanks beat her defender to the near corner. Her cross just missed the head of Sharon Young. Moments later, Hayley Kolb's shot was blocked by the USA defense.

USA had a chance in the 30th minute as Julia Herman got off a shot in the box that was deflected away by Christoffer.

For the fourth straight match the Bulldogs went into halftime 0-0. Samford outshot the Jags 4-2 in the opening period.

In the second half, South Alabama was awarded a free kick 22-yards from goal in the 60th minute after Christoffer was called for a dangerous high kick. Allison Brubeck's shot was saved by a diving Royall.

The Bulldogs pressured for the final five minutes of regulation as Marian Wagner and Allison Stone each had shots. South Alabama counter attacked in the 87th minute as Rebecca Kahn had a shot that went just wide.

Regulation ended with a USA free kick with 6.5 seconds left that went wide of goal. It was Samford's third straight match that finished regulation 0-0.

The best chance of the first overtime came as Kolb sent a perfect cross in that just missed Young running on to it in the 98th minute.

USA had the best chance of the second overtime as Brianna Nelson had a shot from the top of the box that was saved by Royall in the 107th minute. Samford had a two-on-one breakaway on the ensuing counter attack but the Bulldogs were called for off-sides inside the USA box.

Samford's final opportunity came in the final minute. Kearns' corner kick was headed high of goal by Wagner.

The tie is the Bulldogs second in its last three matches. The Samford record for most consecutive minutes without allowing a goal is 361. The Bulldogs will have to hold Mississippi State scoreless for 13 minutes on Tuesday night to set a new mark.

Samford hosts Mississippi State in a 7 p.m. match Tuesday night at Bulldog Field.