Sept. 30, 2007

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team improved to 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play Sunday as the Bulldogs used late goals from Cassie Applegate and Leah Leppert to defeat the Murray State Racers in overtime 2-1.

Applegate's goal occurred during the 83rd minute of play and tied the match at 1-1. Leppert's game-winning score came in the sixth minute of the first overtime period and was her first collegiate goal.

"This was a huge win for us," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "I'm so proud of our team and how they fought back in the second half and never gave up. Last year, we didn't come back from a deficit to win all year and this season we've already done it twice. This win will give our team a great deal of confidence."

Samford (7-3, 2-0 OVC) trailed 1-0 for the first 82 minutes of the match before Applegate's equalizing goal evened the score at 1-1.

On the momentum-shifting play, Caroline Baxter sent a perfectly-placed corner kick high into the air in front of the net. Applegate, the Bulldogs' 5-foot-7 forward from Zionsville, Ind., then angled in from her position on the right flank, leapt into the air and headed the ball to the right of the goalkeeper.

The goal was Applegate's second of the season.

"Cassie's goal was huge for us today," Yelton said. "We were down a goal with less than 10 minutes to play and obviously Murray State was throwing everything at us to keep us from scoring. When we were able to score that goal we could feel the pressure leave our shoulders."

Leppert scored the golden goal of the match at exactly 95:56. The game-winner was her first of the 2007 campaign.

On the play, she collected the ball on the left sideline and angled her way towards the middle of the field. She beat one Racer defender in stride and then rifled a shot top shelf into the right corner of the net.

Murray State's goalkeeper Tara Isbell drew a bead on the shot immediately after it was kicked, but the ball was placed perfectly beyond her reach.

"Leah's played a lot of different positions for us this season and today she stepped up and just hit a cracker of a shot," said Yelton. "That has been a characteristic of this team in that our players come through in the end and they find a way to win."

Murray State (5-6, 0-2 OVC) scored first to take an early 1-0 lead.

The Racers' goal came on a penalty kick from Krista Muilkens. The score was her second of the 2007 season. The penalty kick was awarded after a Murray State player was pulled down in the box by a Samford defender.

With the loss, the Racers dropped their third straight match.

"I thought that Beth (Acreman) did a great job with her team today," said Yelton. "She had her players organized and they were extremely difficult to break down. In the second half, Murray State sat in a bit and they fought hard for every ball. I have tremendous respect for Murray State and how they played today."

Samford outshot Murray State 21-8 on Sunday.

"I think that our team showed a great deal of character today," Yelton said. "It's always tough to play in the second game of a weekend series and it's especially difficult to come back from behind in a match like this. This was a great effort by our players."

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs conclude their five-match homestand against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.