April 9, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford soccer team's Paige Lanter blasted home the game-winning goal against Mississippi State on Wednesday night to lift the Bulldogs to a 1-0 victory over their Southeastern Conference counterparts at the MSU Soccer Field.

Samford's hard-fought 1-0 win against Mississippi State capped off a successful spring season for the Bulldogs. Including Wednesday's victory, Samford concluded its 2009 spring campaign with a 2-2-1 record against a variety of top-flight opponents.

The Bulldogs' first victory of the year was a 3-1 triumph over in-state rival Jacksonville State. Samford also played to a draw against intra-city foe UAB. The Bulldogs' two losses of the spring occurred versus Alabama 2-1 and Memphis 2-1.

The Samford soccer team finished its 2008 season with a 9-9-3 overall record. The Bulldogs tallied an 8-1-2 Southern Conference mark and qualified for the semifinals of the 11-team league in their inaugural season in the conference.

Next year, Samford will return all 11 starters from this year's squad and will also boast the services of 11 additional letterwinners.

"I think the future is very bright for us," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "We have a tremendously young squad and we have great team chemistry. Our players are great individuals and I think they are a talented lot.

"Spring is about individual players getting better and each one of our players has improved over the spring. I believe our players have made the commitment that is necessary for us to win the SoCon and return to the NCAA tournament."