Sept. 23, 2005

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. - On Friday, the Samford University soccer team suffered its first road defeat in Ohio Valley Conference play since Oct. 12, 2003, as the Bulldogs were upended by the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, 1-0, in the teams' OVC-opener at the EKU Soccer Complex.

"In my 14 years of coaching, I've never been more disappointed in a team's performance," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "We just weren't ready to play today and I think that we thought that Eastern Kentucky was going to hand us the match. I'm really let down by how we played today."

With the loss, Samford (5-2-2, 0-1 OVC) dropped consecutive matches for the first time since Sept. 10th of last season. On Sunday, the Bulldogs began its two-match slide with a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against the 20th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores, 2-1.

Samford's previous defeat on the road against an OVC opponent came versus Eastern Illinois on Oct. 12, 2003. Prior to Friday's loss, the Bulldogs were in the midst of a six-match road winning streak against conference opponents.

In five contests away from home this season, Samford holds a 1-2-2 record. The Bulldogs own a perfect 4-0 mark while playing in Birmingham, Ala.

With its first victory in school history, Eastern Kentucky (1-5-1, 1-0 OVC) snapped a six-match winless streak and pulled off one of the biggest upsets in conference history.

In their inaugural season with a women's soccer team, the Colonels won their first-ever home contest on Friday and proved to be victorious in their opening match of OVC play. Eastern Kentucky played its first six matches of the 2005 campaign on the road and had been outscored 13-1 heading into the contest.

"I have to give a lot of credit to Eastern Kentucky and their coaching staff," Yelton said. "They came out and really wanted to play today and they were hungry for a win. They gave their all out there and they made it happen."

The Colonels' Bridget McKnight scored the lone goal of the match at 11:41 in the second half. The score was her first of the season.

Eastern Kentucky's Lindsay Ismer was credited with the assist after she centered a pass into the box. McKnight gathered the ball and bounced a shot into the net that deflected off of the right post.

McKnight's goal came on one of the Colonels' four shots of the match.

Samford outshot EKU, 18-4, but was unable to put one into the back of the net. The Bulldogs' Heather Birdsell and Rebecca Bohler led the way with four shots apiece.

"We had a number of chances to score today, but we just couldn't fully execute in order to get one in," said Yelton. "We didn't have enough focus in this match and I think that our players spent most of this week looking at the press clippings."

On Wednesday, Samford earned its highest ranking in school history as the Bulldogs were named the No. 10 team in the Southeast Region by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action on Sunday at noon (CDT) as the Bulldogs attempt to snap its two-match losing streak against the Morehead State Eagles in Morehead, Ky.

Eastern Kentucky (1-5-1) def. Samford (5-2-2), 1-0

SAM 0 0 - 0
EKU 0 1 - 1

Scoring: SAM, None; EKU, Bridget McKnight (1) 61:41 (assist Lindsay Ismer).
Saves: SAM, Cayley Winters 1; EKU, Christina Graul 7.
Yellow Cards: None.