Aug. 19, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team used goals from true freshmen Amanda Abbott and Joy Grove to earn a 2-0 season-opening victory against the Belmont Bruins Friday in the inaugural match held at the brand-new Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.

With the victory, Samford (1-0) extended its winning streak against Belmont (0-1) to eight straight matches and improved its all-time record in the series to 9-1.

The Bulldogs outshot the Bruins 18-14 on Friday, but were trailing by a count of 10-7 at halftime.

"I thought we were very, very poor in the first half," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "I thought we were very fortunate to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead. I challenged the players at halftime and I'm extremely happy with how they responded. Other than a couple minor breakdowns, I thought we played really good in the second half."

Samford's opening goal of the match occurred during the 21st minute of play as Abbott faked her way through a pair of Belmont defenders and then deftly moved past the charging goalkeeper for an open-net score from 15 yards out. On the play, senior Shannon Weathington set her up perfectly with the lead-in assist.

Abbott's first goal of her collegiate career occurred in the first match of her collegiate career. The Bulldogs' true freshman from Marietta, Ga., led Samford on Friday with four shot attempts, two of which were on goal. Abbott logged 54 minutes of playing time in her collegiate debut and was one of three true freshmen to earn game action.

"Amanda and Joy both scored outstanding goals," Yelton said. "I thought that they each showed some great individual effort for them to put the goal away when they had the chance. I certainly wish we would have gotten a couple more, but the saves by their goalkeeper were first-class. I thought the freshmen did a great job tonight, but we need to keep going at it and improving."

Grove, Samford's true freshman from Midlothian, Va., started in Friday's contest and played 70 minutes. She also tallied the Bulldogs' second goal of the match in the 52nd minute of action.

On Grove's goal, she rifled a shot past the goalkeeper from 18 yards out for her first career score at Samford. The play was set up perfectly by both Trine Taule and Adrianne Mancino as both teammates were awarded with assists.

Samford's four-year starting goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead extended her all-time record in shutouts to 27 on Friday. The Bulldogs' 6-foot-3 native of Hattiesburg, Miss., finished the contest with four key saves to preserve Samford's shutout victory.

"Alyssa is fantastic," said Yelton. "I think she is one of the top goalkeepers in the country and she has a great mentality and temperament. She was able to keep a clean sheet tonight and our back line is a work in progress right now. We have some players who are new to it, so we'll keep working to get organized and try to help Alyssa out so she won't have to make a great save every game."

Belmont's starting goalkeeper Nicole Berner tallied a match-high five saves, but allowed a pair of Samford goals. The Bruins' Sari Lin played the final 14 minutes in goal and notched two stops.

"I have to give full credit to Belmont," Yelton said. "I thought they gave us a great effort and they were a very difficult team for us to play. If they give that type of effort every night, then they are going to win a lot of matches this season."

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs conclude their two-match homestand against the Alabama Crimson Tide on home at the Samford Soccer Stadium.