Nov. 11, 2007

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Samford University soccer team fell short in penalty kicks against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship match Sunday. The teams ended regulation tied at 1-1 and after two overtime periods, Southeast Missouri outscored Samford 5-3 in penalty kicks.

"I'm extremely proud of this team and how hard they played," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "They left their hearts out on the field and they did a great job of controlling everything that they could control. Playing SEMO at SEMO is a tough challenge, especially on this turf, and I'm proud of how we were able to fight to the end."

Despite Sunday's draw, Samford (15-4-1) still owns the best single-season record in school history. The Bulldogs' 15-4-1 mark has already surpassed the previous record set in 2005.

Samford's soccer team concluded its prosperous five-year membership in the OVC on Sunday. During their time in the conference, the Bulldogs reeled off four-straight regular season titles, one OVC Tournament championship and compiled a staggering 38-6-7 record against league foes.

By advancing past Samford in the penalty kick shootout, Southeast Missouri (12-2-4) earned the OVC's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Tournament. Samford still has an outside shot to qualify for the season-ended 64-team event and the field will officially be announced Monday at 7 p.m., on ESPNews.

"We're not resigning to the fact that our season is over," Yelton said. "I know that we have a very good team this year and we don't have any bad losses. We have a current RPI of 40 in the nation and I think that we are definitely on the bubble to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. We just hope that the committee takes a look at our achievements."

In 2005, Samford earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament and knocked off 19th-ranked Vanderbilt in the opening round.

On Sunday, after the teams played to a physical 0-0 first half, Samford scored the first goal of the match during the 59th minute of play.

The Bulldogs' goal was scored by sophomore Cindy Spiker on a penalty kick. The goal gave Samford a 1-0 lead and was the first of her young career. Spiker, a native of Birmingham, was awarded the penalty kick after a Southeast Missouri defender tackled Leah Leppert in box.

"Leah made an outstanding move and was able to get past their defense," said Yelton. "As she was heading towards the goal, she was dragged down and Cindy (Spiker) was able to score on the penalty kick. Leah's been outstanding for us all season and that was another big play from her."

Samford was able to maintain its one-goal advantage for nearly 25 minutes until the Redhawks' Ashley Runion tallied the equalizing score during the 84th minute of play.

Runion, who was recently named the OVC's freshman of the year, tallied her 11th goal of the season. The score was assisted by Alaina LaCopo.

After Runion's match-tying goal, the teams ended regulation knotted at 1-1. The score was only fitting considering that the last three times that Samford and Southeast Missouri played, the match went into double-overtime in each occurrence.

On Sunday, Southeast Missouri attempted seven shots during overtime, while Samford fired one. Neither team scored a goal in the 20 minutes of extra time and the OVC championship went into a penalty kick shootout.

In penalty kicks, Southeast Missouri used the home turf to its advantage and outscored Samford 5-3.

"Our team played tough today and battled hard," Yelton said. "They did everything that they could possibly do out there and it was a typical Samford-Southeast Missouri match. It was an extremely physical battle between two very good teams."

Samford had three players earn OVC All-Tournament honors. Seniors Heather Birdsell and Cassie Applegate were each named to the 11-member team, as was Spiker following her match-opening goal. Southeast Missouri's Runion was named the tournament's MVP.

On Monday, Samford will find out if it received an at-large bid to the 2007 NCAA Tournament. The selection show will be aired live on ESPNews at 7 p.m.

2007 OVC All-Tournament Team

All-Tournament Team
Kathleen Hayes, Eastern Illinois
Michelle Steinhaus, Eastern Illinois
Katie Beherns, UT Martin
Jamie Price, UT Martin
Heather Birdsell, Samford
Cindy Spiker, Samford
Cassie Applegate, Samford
Vanessa Hart, Southeast Missouri
Lindsay Pickering, Southeast Missouri
Alaina Lacopo, Southeast Missouri
Ashley Runion, Southeast Missouri (MVP)