Samford University
Texas State
Cress's First-Half Goal Lifts Bulldogs To 1-0 Victory Against Texas State
9.4.09 | Women's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team extended its winning streak to three-consecutive matches Friday as the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against the Texas State Bobcats. In the shutout win, Samford's Amber Cress scored the game-winning goal during the 28th minute of play.
The score was Cress's third of the season and the 19th of her collegiate career. With the goal, she moved into a tie for fourth place on Samford's all-time goals-scored list. Cress is currently tied with former Bulldog-great Hayley Kolb for fourth place, while Marian Wagner holds the record with 26 career goals.
The Bulldogs' Melissa Miller tallied the assist on the goal as she dropped in a picture-perfect centering pass for Cress.
"It's a great accomplishment (to be undefeated), but that's not what we're focused on right now," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "We just want to get better each and every time that we step on the field, because ultimately it's only our record at the end of the season that counts. I am extremely proud of our team for how they played today and this was a good win for us."
Samford (3-0-1) remained undefeated on the season and kept its shutout streak intact at four matches. The Bulldogs have not allowed a goal in 380 minutes of play this year.
Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead tallied four saves Friday and picked up her third complete-game shutout of the season. The Bulldogs' 6-foot-3 native of Hattiesburg, Miss., has not allowed a goal in 369 minutes.
"Our back four are doing extremely well this season," said Yelton. "Alyssa is playing at a very high level right now and I think we're difficult for opponents to break down. We just need to continue to get better at some things and I also saw a few circumstances that we'll need to address once we get back to training on Monday."
With the loss, Texas State (1-3) suffered its third-straight one-goal defeat. After knocking off St. Mary's on Aug. 22, the Bobcats have dropped consecutive hard-fought losses at UC Irvine 2-1, UC Riverside 1-0 and Samford.
"I thought that Texas State was very well organized and very well coached," said Yelton. "Defensively, they were extremely difficult to break down and I thought we were fortunate to get a good win against a very good opponent."
Cress scored the game-winning goal during the 28th minute of play Friday. On the score, Miller gained possession of the ball on the left flank and sent a high centering pass up towards the middle of the field. Once the ball was lofted into the air, Cress was able to slide past the Texas State defender and tap a header neatly over Deborah Ross's outstretched arms for the goal.
"Missy (Melissa) hit a brilliant ball and placed it perfectly for Amber," Yelton said. "Amber was able to get on the end of it and that's definitely one that we know is going to make the highlight video at the end of the year."
Samford outshot Texas State 14-7 and tallied four corner kicks as compared to only one from the Bobcats. The Bulldogs finished the match with 19 players earning game action, including a pair of true freshmen in Adrianne Mancino and Sabbath McKiernan-Allen.
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Thursday at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs travel across town to West Campus Field to face their intra-city rival, the UAB Blazers.
