Sept. 24, 2011
Box Score
ELON, N.C. -
Amidst wet and rainy conditions at Rudd Field (1,000), the Samford University soccer team opened its 2011 Southern Conference slate with a 1-1 draw Saturday as the Bulldogs battled to the league-opening tie against the Elon Phoenix.
"I really have to applaud the way our team played today," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "It was extremely hard to play in all of the rain and the wet conditions on the field, but our group showed some heart and did a great job. Tonight's match was really a battle of wills and our players displayed a competitive spirit throughout the night."
Samford (2-5-1, 0-0-1 SoCon) finished Saturday's contest with 11 shot attempts, including the Bulldogs' first-half goal from Sarah Wilkinson. Wilkinson, the Bulldogs' All-SoCon performer from Euless, Texas, tallied her team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 13th minute of play.
On Wilkinson's early score, which gave Samford a quick 1-0 lead, true freshman Joy Grove moved past a pair of Elon (2-4-3, 0-0-1 SoCon) defenders and sent a pass ahead to Wilkinson who caromed a shot off the crossbar and into the back of the net. Grove's assist proved to be the first of her young career.
The Bulldogs enjoyed their first-half lead for approximately 13 minutes before Elon's Simi Dhaliwal scored the equalizing goal at 25:20. The Phoenix's score proved to be unassisted as Dhaliwal dribbled through a goalkeeper challenge and tallied her first goal of the season from eight yards out.
"Elon is a very talented team and they are extremely well-coached," Yelton said. "Week in and week out, every match we play in this league is going to be tough, especially on the road. Despite a lot of adversity, I thought that our team played well and we still have a chance to have a special season."
Samford goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead finished Saturday's match with five saves, while Elon's pair of Kate Murphy and Shannon Cosgrove combined to make six stops. Murphy started the match for the Phoenix and played the opening 45 minutes. Cosgrove came in at the half and finished the final 65 minutes with three saves.
The Bulldogs' offensive attack was paced by sophomore Michelle Moll and Wilkinson. Both players finished the contest with two shot attempts each. Also registering shot attempts Saturday for Samford were Shanika Thomas, Shannon Weathington, Brittany Hoffman, Trine Taule, Amanda Abbott, Kaley Blanton and Grove.
With Saturday's draw, Samford's lead in its all-time series against Elon moved to 2-1-1. The Bulldogs were victorious in the first two matches of the rivalry, while the Phoenix tallied a 1-0 win held in Birmingham, Ala., last season.
"I was extremely proud of our team," said Yelton. "We played hard and never gave up. I definitely thought that we played well enough to win, but it just didn't work out for us that way. Right now, we just need to get rested up and get ready to play a tough match at UNCG on Monday."
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Monday at 11 a.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs conclude their three-match road swing against the defending SoCon champion UNCG Spartans. Monday's contest will be held at the UNCG Soccer Stadium (3,540).
