Oct. 25, 2009

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team extended its undefeated streak at home to 24-consecutive matches Sunday as the Bulldogs rallied back to force a key 1-1 draw with the Davidson Wildcats. Davidson's Callan Elswick scored a goal midway through the first half before Natalie Fleming tallied the equalizer in the 75th minute.

"I'm very happy with how we played in the second half and in the overtime periods, but I was very disappointed in us in the first half," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "We had a lot at stake in this game and it was disappointing that we didn't come out ready to play. That blame comes back to the head coach and I have to figure out how to solve that puzzle."

With the draw, Samford (11-1-4, 6-1-3 Southern Conference) earned its 21st point in conference play and remained in third place in the conference standings. Following Sunday's action, the Bulldogs sit in a two-way tie for third place along with the College of Charleston. Earlier this season, the College of Charleston handed Samford its only loss of the season 1-0 on Sept. 27.

Davidson (9-9-1, 6-3-1 SoCon) picked up its 19th point of the conference season and remained in fifth place in the standings. The Wildcats will need to defeat last-place Georgia Southern on Saturday in order to have a chance to qualify for the four-team SoCon Tournament.

"Davidson had everything to play for today and everything to lose," Yelton said. "If we were to win today then their season would have been over. To their credit, they came out and they battled to keep their hopes alive."

Samford dictated the play of the match and finished with eight corner kicks as compared to one for Davidson. The Wildcats outshot the Bulldogs 14-12, while Samford was whistled for two more fouls 14-12.

"I felt like we had a lot of chances to score another goal in the second half," said Yelton. "We had a ton of corner kicks and I felt like we had a lot of good opportunities. We had loads of shots that were just wide or just over the crossbar. I have to give a lot of credit to Davidson's back four because they fought hard all day."

The Wildcats jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a goal from Elswick during the 26th minute of play. The score was her second of the 2009 campaign.

To set up the play, Samford was whistled for a foul just outside of the top right corner of the box. Davidson then took advantage of the set-piece by sending a high ball just in front of the net. The ball was kicked around a few times before the Wildcats' Blakely Low fired a shot that was deflected by a Bulldog defender.

After being blocked, the ball then bounced directly to Elswick on the left side of the net. Davidson's junior forward then one-timed a shot low into the right side of the goal.

The score was only the fifth goal allowed by Samford this season. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 26-5 and entered the match as the nation's best team in both goals-against average and save percentage.

Even as Davidson played keep-away and dropped most of its players into the defensive half of the field, Samford was able to tie the match at 1-1 at the 74:36 mark in the second half.

Fleming, the Bulldogs' senior forward from Evansville, Ind., scored the equalizing goal; it was her third of the 2009 campaign. The score was assisted by Amber Cress and Hilary Samuels. On the play, Cress initiated the attack from the left flank and passed the ball up ahead to Samuels in the box. Samuels gathered the pass, faked a shot and sent it to her left to Fleming.

On Samuels' pass, the ball was nicked by a Davidson defender and bounced chest-high towards Fleming. Fleming quickly adjusted her swing and popped a floating shot that landed just beyond the Wildcats' goalkeeper Jessie Baxa for the score.

"I thought that Natalie Fleming really raised her performance for us in the second half," said Yelton. "She really turned up her play a notch late in the match as did the rest of our attacking players. On the goal, when I saw Nat turn and get a foot on it, then I knew it had a great chance. I was just hoping that it didn't bounce over the goal, because it seemed to be one of those types of days for us today."

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 2 p.m., as the Bulldogs close out their regular-season schedule on the road against the Chattanooga Lady Mocs. The match will be held at the North River Complex in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. (CDT).