Box Score BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team opened its 2012 home slate of matches in impressive fashion Sunday as the Bulldogs' exploded for a 3-1 victory against cross-town rival UAB in an early-season, non-conference matchup held at the Samford Track and Soccer Complex.
 
“This was a big win for us and I have tremendous respect for UAB,” said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. “Harold (Warren) does an unbelievable job for that program and they are always a tough challenge for us. I was really proud of our players, especially because we went down a goal early. To respond the way we did is very positive for us.”
 
Samford (1-3), which extended its home winning streak to six-consecutive matches and its home undefeated streak to eight straight contests, received goals from Brittany Hoffman, Trine Taule and McKenzie Thomas on Sunday. The Bulldogs' goal-scoring output was its highest of the 2012 season.
 
“When you look at who we've played this season: Tennessee in their home-opener, Alabama in their home-opener and then at Auburn, those are all difficult and challenging places to play, so to be able to get back home was really nice,” Yelton said. “This was an important win for us. We were 0-3 and we really needed a positive result, so I was really happy with how our players responded tonight.”
 
UAB (0-5) remained winless in 2012, but has also squared off against a challenging non-conference schedule this season. The Blazers opened the campaign with losses to Oregon State and Oregon on the road, Alabama and third-ranked Oklahoma State at home before traveling across town to Samford on Sunday.
 
Early in the first half, UAB struck first in the 10^th minute of play as freshman midfielder Paige Hoffman rifled a shot high into the back of the net from 30 yards out. The goal was the first of her collegiate career and she scored it in front of her older sister, Brittany, who is a sophomore forward on Samford's squad.
 
After Paige Hoffman's goal gave the Blazers' a quick 1-0 lead Sunday, the Bulldogs' Brittany Hoffman decisively shifted the momentum back to Samford as she evened the score of the match at 1-1 in the 15^th minute of action. Hoffman's equalizing goal was also her first of the 2012 season and was assisted by the Bulldogs' Michelle Moll.
 
“It was a great night all around for the Hoffman's,” said Yelton. “They are great people and they have a great family, and with Brittany being such a good kid I know that she's happy that we won, and that's she's a little sad for her sister, but it always makes Christmas and Thanksgiving a little easier for her if we win.”
 
In the 31^st minute of the first half, Samford's Trine Taule notched the game-winning goal of Sunday's contest as she drove by the goalkeeper down the left flank and fired into an empty net from 10 yards out. On the score, Taule received a centering pass from Lindy Robichaux, slipped past a pair of Blazer defenders and faked a shot back towards the right half of the net.
 
During Taule's shot fake, UAB's freshman goalkeeper Courtnie Northern dove to stop the attempt and when she left her feet, the Bulldogs' midfielder cruised around her to the left and fired home the shot. The goal was Taule's first of the 2012 campaign.
 
Samford's third-and-final goal of the evening was arguably its most impressive. During the 65^th minute of play, the Bulldogs led by a score of 2-1 and had a free kick on UAB's half of the field approximately 45 yards out.
 
Jordan Johnson, Samford's junior transfer from Florida State, took the free kick and sent a high, well-placed ball just inside the left corner of the box. The Bulldogs' Thomas gathered the pass, dribbled it through a mix of UAB defenders and quickly turned into a shot that screamed past Northern's right shoulder into the back of the next. The goal was Thomas' second of the season.
 
“McKenzie's goal was very important for us tonight,” Yelton said. “It was also nice to see Trine get off the mark and I think she's played really well for us. One of the strengths of our squad is our depth, because I didn't think that we got off to a great start tonight. Our reserves came on and made a fantastic contribution for us. On the second goal, Trine came on and put it away and then the third goal certainly made things a lot easier for us.”
 
Samford's Melissa Montgomery played the entire first half of Sunday's match in goal, while true freshman Jessica Perry came in at the half and logged the final 45 minutes of the contest. Perry, a native of Webster Groves, Mo., registered the Bulldogs' lone save of the match in the second half.
 
UAB's Northern played the entire match in net for the Blazers and finished with a pair of saves.


Samford outshot UAB, 15-11, but the Blazers took two more corner kicks in the match, 4-2.
 
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 5 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs square off against the Toledo Rockets in the opening match of the 2012 Cardinal Classic, which is being hosted by the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky.