Oct. 25, 2005

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team rallied for a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over the Birmingham-Southern Panthers on Tuesday as the Bulldogs received a pair of key second-half goals from Sara Geiger and Sharon Young in the dramatic win.

"This was a hard-fought match and that is to be expected in a city rivalry," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "I have an enormous amount of respect for Keidane McAlpine. I think that he is a great coach and a great person. I knew that he was going to have his team very well-prepared today and it took a tough effort for us to win."

With the victory, Samford (13-3-2) extended its winning streak to five-consecutive games and increased its advantage in the all-time series to 4-2-1. The Panthers won last season's matchup, 1-0, at Bulldog Field.

"I think that the character of our team is starting to show in how we finish matches," Yelton said. "Earlier in the year, we would have been frustrated by giving up the early goal, but today we responded by playing with heart and desire and we were able to get the job done."

Birmingham-Southern (6-10-1) dropped its second-straight contest of the season on Tuesday in the team's final home game of the 2005 campaign.

With less than 13 minutes to play and Birmingham-Southern leading 1-0, Samford's Geiger scored the equalizing goal to even the game at 1-1.

On the score, Geiger was set up perfectly by a pass from reigning Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week Heather Birdsell. Birdsell gained possession of the ball on Samford's half of the field, darted past a trio of Birmingham-Southern defenders and sent a centering pass ahead to Geiger.

The ball hit Geiger's feet perfectly in stride and the Bulldogs' junior from Lilburn, Ga., placed a shot neatly into the bottom-right corner of the net.

"I really think that Sara (Geiger) has been playing extremely well for us in our last four matches," said Yelton. "She is definitely an emotional leader for us at times and she always seems to give us a positive boost. I thought that she was a big difference in the match tonight."

Samford continued applying the offensive pressure and quickly picked up the game-winning goal.

Less than three minutes after Geiger's score, junior Sharon Young tallied her third goal of the season to the Bulldogs their decisive 2-1 lead. On the play, Samford's Rebecca Bohler took a direct kick and sent the ball ahead of the line towards Young.

Young ran towards the net at full speed, jumped up and headed a shot past Birmingham-Southern's goalkeeper Tina Ross.

Bohler, the Bulldogs' sophomore forward from Augusta, Ga., earned her team-leading ninth assist of the season, tying a school record set by Mitzi Mahan in 1998.

Birmingham-Southern jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage on Tuesday as the Panthers' Catherine Spiker scored on a penalty kick at 4:29 into the match.

The penalty kick was awarded after the Panthers' Brittney Jones was pulled down by a Samford defender in the box. Jones, a junior from Peachtree City, Ga., paced Birmingham-Southern with three shots, all of which were on goal.

"The penalty kick was kind of a harsh call against us, but I liked the way that our players responded," Yelton said. "They didn't feel like the game was over at that point in time and they responded in a positive manner."

Midway through the first half, Samford's Geiger scored an apparent goal after she received a quality lead-in pass from junior Kim Matthews. Geiger's shot hit the back of the net, but the Bulldogs were whistled for offsides.

At the half, Samford led the Panthers in corner kicks, 3-0, but trailed Birmingham-Southern, 5-2, in shots. The play was physical in the opening period as the teams combined for 16 fouls. The Bulldogs were whistled for nine fouls, while BSC was penalized seven times.

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action on Friday, Oct. 28, as the Bulldogs host the Belmont Bruins in a "Senior Night" matchup scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., at Bulldog Field.

Samford (13-3-2) def. Birmingham-Southern (6-10-1), 2-1

SAM 0 2 - 2
BSC 1 0 - 1

Scoring: SAM, Sara Geiger (1) 77:09 (assist Heather Birdsell), Sharon Young (3) 79:32 (assist Rebecca Bohler); BSC, Catherine Spiker (4) 4:29 (penalty kick).
Saves: SAM, Cayley Winters 3; BSC, Tina Ross 3.
Yellow Cards: SAM, None; BSC, Team 85:38.