Sept. 2, 2005

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team used a pair of critical first-half goals from junior Sharon Young and sophomore Heather Birdsell to knock off the Memphis Lady Tigers, 2-1, on Friday in front of 621 rambunctious fans at Bulldog Field.

With its win in the opening day of the 2005 Long's Electronics Samford Classic, Samford (2-0-1) remained undefeated on the season and earned its first victory over a Conference USA opponent. Heading into Friday's contest, the Bulldogs were 0-5 all-time against C-USA teams.

"This was a big win for us," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Memphis is a very talented team and (Head Coach) Brooks Monaghan has done an excellent job with that program. I think that they are going to challenge for the Conference USA title. It was definitely good to get a win over a quality opponent."

Sophomore Kim Matthews ignited Samford's offense early in the first half as she assisted on Young's goal during the sixth minute of play. The assist proved to be Matthews' first of the season and the ninth of her career.

The scoring opportunity started at midfield when Matthews beat a Memphis opponent to a pass, sprinted down the right sideline and sent a five-foot high cross into the box. The ball was played perfectly off of Young's head and past the Tigers' goalkeeper, Isabel Briones.

The goal was Young's first of the season and the fourth of her career.

"I thought that Sharon's early goal really took a lot of pressure off of us and we played very well at the beginning of the match," Yelton said. "We came out and were ready to play tonight and now we have to get ready for our match on Sunday against Marshall. They have a great coach and we are going to have to make sure that we are prepared for another hard-fought contest.

Senior goalkeeper Emily Morris, the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week, limited Memphis' explosive offense to only one goal on 10 shots. The Bulldogs' native of Memphis, Tenn., recorded three key saves in the contest. Memphis (1-1-0) flatted Tennessee Tech, 7-0, in its season-opening match on Aug. 28.

With the score of the contest deadlocked at 1-1, Birdsell tallied the game-winning goal at 31:09 in the first half.

The scoring play was initiated by sophomore Kat Sweatt who centered a pass towards the goal from the right side of the field. Several Memphis defenders attempted to corral the loose ball, but Birdsell stepped in and fired a 10-yard laser into the right side of the net for the score.

Birdsell, Samford's sophomore midfielder from Plano, Texas, currently leads the team with five points on the season as has already tallied a pair of goals and an assist in three matches. In 2004, she finished tied for the Bulldogs' scoring lead with four goals.

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action on Sunday as the Bulldogs host the Marshall Thundering Herd in the finale of the 2005 Long's Electronics Samford Classic. The contest is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., at Bulldog Field.

Also on Sunday, the Evansville Purple Aces and the Memphis Tigers will square off at 11:30 a.m.

Samford (2-0-1) def. Memphis (1-1-0), 2-1

MEM 1 0 - 1
SAM 2 0 - 2

Scoring: SAM, Sharon Young (1) 5:24 (Kim Matthews), Heather Birdsell (2) 31:09 (unassisted); MEM, Shoko Mikami (3) 23:43 (unassisted).
Saves: SAM, Emily Morris 3; MEM, Isabel Briones 2.
Yellow Cards: SAM, Cassie Applegate (1) 8:59; MEM, Nicky McLeod (1) 86:09.