Aug. 28, 2011

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In arguably its toughest non-conference matchup of the early 2011 season, the Samford University soccer team dropped a 2-0 decision against the 25th-ranked Memphis Lady Tigers on Sunday at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.

"I was really happy with the way we played today," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Especially after how disappointed I was with how we played in the second half against UAB on Friday. I think that Memphis is a really good team this season and they are definitely worth being ranked No. 25 in the nation, if not higher. We've seen some really good teams this season, so this is something that we can build on and get ready for another tough match Friday at Kennesaw State."

Despite Sunday's loss, Samford (1-3) still leads Memphis (4-0) in the all-time series between the teams, 3-2. The Bulldogs won the first three matches of the rivalry before the Lady Tigers notched a 3-0 victory in Memphis, Tenn., a year ago. Last season, the Lady Tigers entered their annual matchup with Samford as the 18th-ranked team in the nation.

This season, Memphis is currently the 25th-ranked team in the country and has already picked up victories against top-flight teams LSU 3-1, Alabama 1-0 and Samford 2-0.

The Lady Tigers jumped out to a 1-0 lead Sunday on a header from junior defender Christie Kline. The eventual game-winning goal occurred in the 32nd minute of play and occurred on a Memphis corner kick. On the score, the Lady Tigers' Kaitlyn Atkins drove the corner kick high into the box where Kline timed her jump nicely and headed the ball right of Samford's goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead.

Whitehead, the Bulldogs' All-Southeastern Conference performer, tallied a match-high six saves Sunday, including a pair of diving stops. In Samford's pair of weekend matches, Whitehead accumulated 13 saves to increase her season total to 25.

"I thought our team played their hearts out today," Yelton said. "I honestly thought that Adrianne Mancino looked a lot better out there today and she's responded in a very positive manner. Our back four did well today and Mary Grabowsky did extremely well as did Katie Danehy and Sabbath McKiernan-Allen. I can't really fault anybody today. I thought they gave us a great effort and if we can get more efforts like this then I think we will win some more games."

Samford rattled off five shots in the second period and nearly scored on a pair of equalizing opportunities.

The Bulldogs' second scoring chance of the second half came from a header from sophomore Trine Taule. Taule's shot on goal occurred during the 71st minute and was perfectly place to the left corner of the net. Memphis' goalkeeper Elis Kuhar-Pitters was unable to stop the shot but one of the Lady Tigers' defenders was perfectly-placed on the back line to make the save.

Kuhar Pitters, who earned her second save of the 2011 season Sunday, finished with one save.

"Their goalkeeper is class and their entire team is class," said Yelton. "I really thought that Trine's header was in for equalizing goal, but then they made that stop on the back line. We forced Memphis to clear a couple off the line and we definitely had our chances, but more power to them. They really played a great game today."

Earlier in the second half, Samford senior Lindsay Matern nearly put the Bulldogs on the board with a laser from 15 yards out. Samford's native of Lakeland, Fla., gathered a loose ball in the center of the box and rattled off a shot that sailed inches over the crossbar.

"I thought the second half was a pretty even contest to be honest with you," Yelton said. "In the first half, they kind of had the run of it. You look at our team and how many freshmen and sophomores that we have playing and I think that these tough games will definitely prepare us for conference play and for making a run to the NCAA Tournament."

Memphis' second goal was scored in the 83rd minute by Natalia Gomez-Junco. The unassisted score was her first of the 2011 campaign.

The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 6 p.m., as the Bulldogs travel to Georgia for another key non-conference showdown against the Kennesaw State Owls to be held at the brand-new 8,300-seat KSU Soccer Stadium.