Sept. 20, 2003

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford defense continued its outstanding play and Crystal Royall made four saves as the Bulldogs remained unbeaten and unscored on in the last five matches. However the offense couldn't find the back of the net as Samford tied Mercer 0-0 at Bulldog Field Saturday night.

Samford (4-1-3) outshot Mercer (3-3-1) 18-7 including six shots in the second overtime but Mercer's Lauren Burch made nine saves to keep the match scoreless. The Bulldog defense has now gone a school record 548 minutes without allowing a goal.

"It is really frustrating. We are getting opportunities and just not putting them away," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "However, you have to look at the positives and to not give up a goal in five matches is something our players should be proud of."

The three ties are the most in one season for the Bulldogs in their seven year history. The match got off to a slow start as both teams kicked the ball around for the first 20 minutes. Samford got the matches first shot in the 23rd minute as Marian Wagner headed a ball off a corner kick that was saved by Burch.

The first half ended with Mercer holding a 3-2 advantage in shots. In the second half, The Bulldogs outshot the Bears 9-3. Rebecca Mock had an opportunity from the top of the box in the 49th minute. One minute later Allison Stone unleashed a shot that Burch had to push out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick, Sarah Geiger headed the ball just over the cross bar. Geiger had another chance in the 83rd minute when she hit the crossbar with a shot for 25 yards out the rebound came to Heidi Kearns who had an open net but could not settle the ball and her shot went high.

Mercer's best chance to score came in the 70th minute as Rachel Astoring could not take advantage of a rare defensive mistake. Astoring had beaten Royall to a ball in the box but pushed her shot over the crossbar.

Hayley Kolb had the only shot for either team in the first overtime, but in the second overtime it was all Bulldogs. Samford had six shots in the final 10 minutes and forced Burch to make four saves to keep the Bears at .500 on the season.

Keala Ryan took a long shot in the 103rd minute that had to be saved, but the rebound went to Kim Matthews who tried to run onto the ball but Burch was able to make another save. In the 105th minute the Bulldogs continued to pressure the Bears as the Bulldogs had three scoring chances.

Samford will have some time to rest before it faces No. 19 ranked Auburn next Friday in a 7:30 p.m. match on the Plains.