Sept. 23, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford's Natalie Fleming lifted the Bulldogs to a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against the regionally-ranked UAB Blazers at Bulldog Field on Sunday. The game-winning goal was assisted by senior Cassie Applegate.

"I'm extremely proud of our team and how they played tonight," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "I always tell them that the second half of the second game of a weekend series is always a true test of character, and tonight they showed their heart and they never gave up. This was a great win for us."

With the victory, Samford (5-3-0) improved to 2-0 against Conference USA opponents this season. Earlier this year, the Bulldogs picked up a third-straight win over Memphis. All-time, Samford holds a 6-5 record against C-USA opponents.

Fleming's golden goal occurred during the seventh minute of the overtime period and was her first of the 2007 campaign.

On the game-winning score, Applegate broke away from a pair of Blazer defenders to find herself one-v-one with goalkeeper Kate Blankenship. Applegate sliced a shot to the far post, but Blankenship made a diving save to her right. After the deflection, Fleming cut inside and slammed home the deciding goal into the right corner of the net.

"The last play was just kind of a crazy scramble there in front of their net and it was a mirror of the game," said Yelton. "As the game wore on, it became more and more frantic and especially so since two players were sent off. Each team was playing with 10 so there was more space and it was great for Natalie to get rewarded with the goal."

UAB (4-3-1) lost its second-consecutive match and dropped its initial contest against Samford. Sunday's matchup was the first all-time meeting between the two cross-town foes. Heading into the contest, the Blazers were the 11th-ranked team in the talent-laden Southeast Region.

"I think that UAB is a quality side," Yelton said. "They have already posted quality wins this season against Vanderbilt, Ole Miss and St. Mary's, so I think that it speaks very highly of our program to get a win against them. I also think that this gets us in the right mindset in order to start conference play.

"Paul (Harbin) has done a great job as the head coach at UAB and I think that they are going to have a good chance to win the C-USA this season. They play in a very talented conference and I think it would be neat if both of us could play in the NCAA Tournament here in Birmingham."

Samford jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in Sunday's match as true freshman Lauren Cook tallied her Ohio Valley Conference-leading seventh goal of the 2007 campaign.

Cook, the Bulldogs' talented forward from Conyers, Ga., tallied the score during the 16th minute of play after Samford was awarded a penalty kick. The kick was awarded after Samford's Amber Cress was pulled down in the box by a UAB defender.

The penalty-kick goal was Cook's second of the season.

UAB evened the match at 1-1 in the second half as Danya Barsalona scored her third goal of the season during the 56th minute. On the equalizing score, Barsalona rebounded a deflected shot from teammate Danielle Blair and slammed it into the left corner of the net.

The Blazers' Blair was awarded with an assist on the play.

Samford's young defense only allowed the one goal Sunday and limited UAB's high-powered offensive attack to 12 shot attempts and only three in the first half. The Bulldogs finished the match with 10 shots, six of which were on goal.

"Our defense did an outstanding job," said Yelton. "I have the utmost respect for UAB's frontrunners and I believe that both Jill Porto and Sally Palmer are some of the best attackers in the region. Our back line is pretty much made up of sophomores and freshmen, so I think that they really grew up tonight for sure."

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday as the Bulldogs begin OVC play with a home match against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. The OVC-opening contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., at Bulldog Field.