Sept. 16, 2005
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team used a second-half scoring barrage to defeat the Southern Miss Golden Eagles on Friday as the Bulldogs' Heather Birdsell, Marian Wagner and Candace Clippard all scored in a 3-0 victory held at Bulldog Field.
"I was really glad that our team was able to step it up there in the second half," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "We as a coaching staff got on them pretty hard at halftime and I don't think that we played with a lot of passion or desire in the first half. We let Southern Miss dictate the play during the entire first half and we had to change that."
With the win, Samford (5-0-2) extended its undefeated streak to seven-consecutive matches and improved to 4-0 at home. The loss was Southern Miss' (3-1-1) first of the season and halted its four-match unbeaten streak.
The teams fought to a scoreless 0-0 draw in the first half of play before the Bulldogs' unleashed two goals in less than three minutes to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
On the first score of the match, Birdsell recorded her team-leading fourth goal of the season off of an assist from junior Sharon Young.
Young, a native of Powder Springs, Ga., started the play by driving hard down the right side of the field and finding Birdsell in the middle of the Golden Eagles' defense 25 yards out. Birdsell gathered the ball, slipped a defender and beat USM's goalkeeper to the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
The goal, which came at 2:51 into the second half, was Birsdell's fourth of the season and the eighth of her career. She has already matched her total from her freshman campaign a year ago.
Less than three minutes later, at 5:09 into the second period, Wagner scored the 24th goal of her illustrious career on a double-assist attack from Kim Matthews and Rebecca Bohler.
On the play, Bohler gained possession of the ball at midfield, weaved between a pair of Southern Miss midfielders and rolled a centering pass in the box to Matthews. The ball hit Matthews perfectly in stride and she one-touched a pass down to the far-left side of the goal where Wagner slammed it home for the score.
"In the second half, our players responded," Yelton said. "It was encouraging for us to see that we came out and got after it pretty good. We played like we are capable of playing and this was a big win for us. Southern Miss is a quality side. They have good players and they are very well-coached."
Wagner, Samford's senior captain from Spring, Texas, jumped into sole possession of second place on the Bulldogs' all-time goals scored list. With the score, she surpassed Mitzi Mahan's 23 career goals and moved to only one shy of Lindsay Shanks' Samford record of 25.
Clippard, a true freshman from Nashville, Tenn., scored the first goal of her collegiate career on Friday to give the Bulldogs' a 3-0 lead.
With 12 seconds remaining in the match, Wagner worked her way through USM's defense and found Clippard driving hard to the left corner of the goal. Wagner's pass found Clippard's feet perfectly and she one-timed a shot into the back of the net.
"It was a huge lift for the entire team when Candace scored her goal tonight," said Yelton. "She is such a quality kid and anything good that happens to her just brings a smile to your face. She works hard every day in practice and it was good to see that pay off for her."
On Friday, Samford improved its record against Conference USA squads to 3-0. Earlier this season, the Bulldogs picked up wins over both Memphis, 2-1, and Marshall, 2-0. Samford has outscored its opponents, 12-2, this year.
Goalkeepers Emily Morris and Cayley Winters combined for the Bulldogs' shutout. Morris, the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week, has not allowed a goal in the team's last 400:00 minutes.
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action on Sunday as the Bulldogs travel north to Nashville, Tenn., for a key non-conference matchup against the 24th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores.
The contest is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., at the Vanderbilt Soccer Complex.
Samford (5-0-2) def. Southern Miss (3-1-1), 3-0
USM 0 0 - 0
SAM 0 3 - 3
Scoring: SAM, Heather Birdsell (4) 47:51 (assist Sharon Young), Marian Wagner (2) 50:09 (assists Kim Matthews, Rebecca Bohler), Candace Clippard (1) 89:48 (assist Wagner); USM, None.
Saves: SAM, Emily Morris 8; USM, Holly Cox 5.
Yellow Cards: SAM, Shay Helmbock 76:24; USM, Jackie Ryan 88:03.
