Oct. 1, 2010

Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Samford University soccer team used a pair of goals from junior forward Sarah Wilkinson to earn a pivotal Southern Conference road victory Friday against the College of Charleston Cougars in a key league matchup held at the Patriots Point Soccer Complex.

With the win, Samford (5-5-1, 1-2 SoCon) snapped a three-match losing streak and improved its all-time record versus College of Charleston (5-6, 2-1 SoCon) to 2-1-2. The triumph also proved to be the Bulldogs' first victory against the Cougars held at Patriots Point.

Samford goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead tallied her fifth shutout of the 2010 campaign Friday. The Bulldogs' junior from Hattiesburg, Miss., registered five key saves en route to the win.

Samford took an early 1-0 lead in the match with a key goal from Wilkinson during the 28th minute of play. On the score, her first of the 2010 season, Wilkinson headed a Lauren Cook centering pass into the far corner of the net past College of Charleston's goalkeeper Katie Tate. Cook, the Bulldogs' junior from Conyers, Ga., tallied her third assist of the season as she sent the pass in from the right corner.

Wilkinson then scored her second goal of the match in the 71st minute to give Samford a decisive 2-0 lead. Her second goal was unassisted after she stole an errant College of Charleston pass and beat the goalkeeper for a breakaway score.

The Bulldogs' offensive attack was obviously paced by Wilkinson on Friday. Samford's native of Euless, Texas, finished the victory with two shot attempts, both of which found the back of the net. True freshman Michelle Moll also tallied a pair of shots for the Bulldogs.

The Cougars outshot the Bulldogs 11-9, but Samford finished the match with four corner kicks, two more than College of Charleston. The Bulldogs were also whistled for one more foul in a total of 10-9.

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at noon (CDT) as the Bulldogs continue their three-match SoCon road trip against The Citadel Bulldogs at MLI Field in Charleston, S.C.