Oct. 4, 2009

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team earned its most lopsided victory of the 2009 campaign Sunday as the Bulldogs struck for a 4-0 home triumph against the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The Southern Conference matchup was held at a wet and rainy Bulldog Field.

"I thought that our players were fantastic today," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "They came out with the right mentality and just battled very hard under some difficult playing conditions. The rain affected us in that we decided to be a little more direct than we normally are, and I think that really helped us to move forward in the attack."

With Sunday's win, Samford (7-1-2, 2-1-1 SoCon) remained undefeated at home this season and improved its record at Bulldog field to 5-0-2. The Bulldogs also moved to 2-0 all-time against Appalachian State (5-6-1, 2-2 SoCon).

"I felt like we really hit the ground running today," Yelton said. "We just want to continue to get better and better each time we step onto the pitch, and I feel like right now we're doing a good job of that."

Samford scored a season-high four goals Sunday. Sophomore Shannon Healy tallied the game-winner during the 17th minute of play, while juniors Paige Lanter and Hilary Samuels also notched first-half goals. Sophomore Sarah Wilkinson tacked on the fourth goal of the match midway through the second half. The score was her team-leading fifth of the 2009 season.

Healy's goal occurred on a direct kick from approximately 20 yards out. On the play, she rifled a line-drive shot neatly into the top left corner of the net. Appalachian State's goalkeeper Emma White made a leaping attempt on the ball, but came up a few feet short. Healy's goal was her first of the season.

"Shannon is fantastic on set pieces," said Yelton. "I knew immediately when it happened that we were going to have her take the kick and she definitely struck it well. That was a big goal for us."

Less than four minutes after Healy's score, Lanter gave Samford a 2-0 lead with her first goal of the season at 20:01.

On the play, senior Amber Cress sent a centering pass up to the front right-hand corner of the box where Lanter gathered the ball, turned and fired a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net. The assist was the first of the match for Cress, who owns a team-high five assists on the season.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 3-0 during the 40th minute of play when Hilary Samuels garnered her first goal of the 2009 campaign. On the score, Leah Leppert sent a pass out wide to Caroline Baxter on the left flank. Baxter then lined a crossing pass up ahead to Natalie Fleming who just barely missed touching it in the middle of the box.

Samuels, who was initially 10 yards behind Fleming on the play, quickly changed course and outran a Mountaineer defender to the ball. She then reared back and fired a shot past another Appalachian State defender and into the bottom right corner of the net. Both Leppert and Baxter were credited with assists on the goal.

"All of our players have been working very hard lately and it was good to see then get rewarded today," Yelton said. "It was enjoyable to see all of our players compete with a lot of effort out there."

Samford tacked on its fourth goal of the match during the 66th minute of play. On the score, Cress sent a crossing pass deep into the middle of the box where Wilkinson moved her way into position and headed a shot off the crossbar and into the back of the net.

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Thursday at 6 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs travel to Greenville, S.C., for a rare midweek SoCon matchup against the Furman Lady Paladins. The contest will be held at Furman's Eugene E. Stone III Soccer Stadium.