Feb. 3, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team held its annual postseason banquet on Friday as the team reflected upon its record-breaking 2005 season which featured a third-straight Ohio Valley Conference championship, an OVC Tournament title and a trip to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

"The great thing about tonight was that it was not only a celebration of this season, but an accumulation of what's been going on for four years," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Emily (Morris) and Marian (Wagner) have been a huge part of our success and tonight was also about honoring them for their hard work and dedication."

Friday's ceremony opened with Yelton presenting the freshman, sophomore and junior classes with their yearly awards. The Bulldogs' coaching staff then honored the 2005 seniors, Emily Morris and Marian Wagner.

Morris, a native of Memphis, Tenn., and Wagner, from Spring, Texas, were each members of Yelton's first recruiting class. In their four seasons at Samford, they helped lead the Bulldogs to a 50-22-11 overall record, three OVC championships and the team's first trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Junior Sharon Young was named the Samford's Most Valuable Player on Friday.

The Bulldogs' defender from Powder Springs, Ga., scored four goals and added two assists last season, and most importantly tallied the team's game-winning score against Eastern Illinois in the championship match of the 2005 OVC Tournament.

Sophomore Cassie Applegate received the Bulldogs' Most Improved Player award and Morris earned the inaugural Best Teammate honor.

Lastly, Coach Yelton honored the entire team by handing out individual Coaches Awards to each player on the squad.

"The biggest thing about this team is that they represent the total team concept," Yelton said. "It would have been an injustice to give the Coaches Award to just one player, because each and every player on this team deserved it. They all contributed to the team's success and each one of them played a role."

Samford recorded its most successful season in school history in 2005. The Bulldogs finished the campaign with a school-record 15-4-4 overall mark and secured both the OVC's regular-season and tournament titles.

The regular-season conference championship was the Bulldogs' third in a row and Yelton was named the 2005 OVC Coach of the Year. The accolade was his second in three seasons.

Samford outlasted Vanderbilt in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament and became the first team in the OVC to advance to the second round.

The Bulldogs return all 11 players that started for the team in the 2005 NCAA Tournament and will boast 20 returning letterwinners and the addition of five highly-touted incoming freshmen.

2005 Samford Soccer Awards

Most Valuable Player: Sharon Young, Jr., D, Powder Springs, Ga.
Most Improved Player: Cassie Applegate, So., D, Zionsville, Ind.
Coaches Award: Team