Jan. 29, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford goalkeeper Crystal Royall was honored this week by Soccer Buzz Magazine as she received third team All-Southeast Region honors for her performance this fall.

Royall, a junior from Richmond, Va., was ranked 18th nationally posting an Ohio Valley Conference best 0.69 goals against average. She also led the OVC in shutouts with 10 helping lead Samford to its first ever OVC regular season championship.

As a team, the Bulldogs posted a 12-4-5 record and were ranked ninth in the nation in shutouts and 12th in the country in goals against average. Samford also ranked 42nd in the nation in home attendance averaging an OVC best 544 per home game.

Royall was one of two OVC players to earn honors from Soccer Buzz. OVC Player of the Year Beth Liesen from Eastern Illinois was named first team All-Great Lakes Region. The award is the first national award earned by a Samford soccer player since Elizabeth Atkins earned second team and Lindsay Anglin earned honorable mention for first-year program awards in 1997.