Oct. 27, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team will compete in its final home match of the 2005 season on Friday as the Bulldogs host the Belmont Bruins in a non-conference contest beginning at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for a special "Senior Night" presentation.

Senior captains Emily Morris and Marian Wagner will be recognized for their hard work and dedication prior to the match.

"These two seniors have meant so much to Samford and to this soccer program," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Both of them came here during my first year when we didn't have any conference championships to recruit with and they came because they wanted to make a difference. I'd definitely say that they've had a positive impact."

Samford (13-3-2) heads into Friday's contest looking to extend its five-game winning streak. The Bulldogs have already clinched their third-consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title and will be the top-seeded team in next week's conference tournament.

The winner of the four-team competition earns an automatic berth in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs have rallied to victory in each of their last five matches. On Oct. 14, Samford defeated Eastern Illinois, 1-0, and then reeled off consecutive wins against Southeast Missouri, 3-1, Tennessee Tech, 2-1, Austin Peay, 4-1, and Birmingham-Southern, 2-1.

In Samford's come-from-behind victory over Birmingham-Southern on Tuesday, the Bulldogs' Sara Geiger and Sharon Young each scored goals in the final 13 minutes of play to secure the win.

"I think that we've really been playing well during the last two or three weeks," Yelton said. "We've built up our confidence a good bit and we've been able to come back and win some games after giving up early goals. Our team is really playing well right now and we want to use tomorrow's game as a chance to get better."

Belmont (3-11-1) enters Friday's matchup looking to win its first game since Oct. 8.

The Bruins are in the midst of a four-match winless streak, but are coming off a 1-1 draw against Mercer on Oct. 22. Belmont's Kari Lennon scored the equalizing goal during the 27th minute of play. The score was her team-leading fifth of the season.

Earlier this month, the Bruins strung together a pair of key victories against conference opponents Kennesaw State, 2-1, and East Tennessee State, 2-0.

Kennesaw State, which is perennially one of the top teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference, was ranked in the Southeast Region by Soccer Buzz Magazine at the time of Belmont's one-goal victory.

"(Belmont's) Lisa Howe is an excellent coach and I know that she will have her team ready to play," said Yelton. "Despite their record, they have a really talented team and I think that was displayed when they beat Kennesaw State. It was a huge win for their program and they are going to come out and try to do the same against us."

Samford's senior captains Morris and Wagner will be making their final appearances at Bulldog Field on Friday.

Morris, a native of Memphis, Tenn., has started in goal eight times this season and has earned three shutouts. Earlier this year, she was the first player in the conference to receive a pair of OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Her hard work and dedication has also paid off in the classroom over the last four years. During Morris' Samford career, she was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Academic Team in 2002 and was a member of the OVC Commissioner's honor roll in both 2003 and 2004.

Wagner, a native of Spring, Texas, is one of the most prolific goal-scorers in school history and is currently tied for first on Samford's all-time goals-scored list with 25. A four-year starter, she led the team in goals as a freshman and set the single-season record with 11.

Throughout her career, she was named an all-conference performer in both 2002 and 2003 and was also named to the OVC's all-tournament team in each of the last two seasons. Wagner is currently listed among the top-five players in Samford history with 16 career assists and 66 points.

"Not only are these seniors great soccer players, but they are also great people as well," Yelton said. "They have been a huge part in the success of this program and their leadership, both on and off of the field, has been vital to what we've been able to accomplish."

The Samford University soccer team will attempt to increase its lead in its all-time series against Belmont to 6-1 on Friday as the Bulldogs compete in their final home match of the 2005 season.

The contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early for a special "Senior Night" presentation.