Sept. 16, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Marian Wagner and Lindsay Shanks each netted goals and the Samford defense did what it has done all season as the Samford Bulldogs handed Mississippi State its first soccer loss of the season 2-0 Tuesday night at Bulldog Field.

Wagner scored her first goal of the season in the 57th minute as she took a pass from Shanks and back-heeled it past a diving Luisa Marzotto for the matches first goal. It was the first goal given up by the Mississippi State (4-1-1) keeper in a school-record 453 minutes. Three minutes later, on the counter attack, Kim Matthews played a perfect ball through the midfield that found Shanks in space. Shanks made one defender miss and set the ball on her left foot before rifling a shot past Marzotto to give Samford a 2-0 lead.

Samford (4-1-2) goal keeper Crystal Royall made two saves on the night in recording her school-record fourth straight shutout. She has not allowed a goal in 438 minutes. The Samford defense of Kelly Christoffer, Rebecca Mock, Sharon Young and Shay Helmbock also recorded two saves to keep MSU off the scoreboard. Christoffer headed a ball off the line in the 88th minute and stepped in front of a shot earlier in the half.

"I thought it was a great effort all the way around," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "We had three freshmen and a senior in the back. Kelly did a great job of keeping us organized. I think Neil McGuire has done an outstanding job at State. It was a quality win against a quality opponent."

Sara Geiger had the best scoring chance in a scoreless first half. In the 16th minute, she hit the crossbar as the ball came to her after a corner kick. MSU's Ngum Suh had the visiting Bulldogs best chance of the half in the 26th minute as she got past the Samford defense but Royall came off her line to make a save.

Mississippi State had the run of play in the early part of the second half but 12 minutes into the half Shanks made a great individual move to elude a defender before setting up Wagner's goal.

Shanks' goal was the 21st of her career leaving her two goals shy of the Samford school record for most career goals.

MSU entered the match ranked No. 9 in the central region by Soccer Buzz and were riding a five match unbeaten streak. Samford moves its unbeaten streak to four straight and will put its shutout streak on the line against Mercer on Saturday night a 7 p.m.