Watch Bonner's Match-Tying Goal
Box Score
Updated Stats

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Samford forward Erin Bonner scored one of the most important goals of her collegiate career Friday as the Bulldogs' sophomore native of Deatsville tallied the equalizer in the 85^th minute of action en route to a 1-1 home draw with the Georgia Bulldogs in a marquee non-conference contest held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
Samford (1-5-1) outshot Georgia (3-3-1) on Friday, including a dominant 17-5 advantage after halftime, but Bonner's tally with exactly 5:23 left in regulation proved to be the biggest.
 
On the match-tying play, Bonner rattled off a shot from 10 yards out on the right side, but Georgia goalkeeper Louise Hogrell made a diving stop for the save. The ball rebounded off Hogrell's outstretched arm and bounced slight farther left towards the endline. Bonner then scrambled to the loose ball, turned and fired a shot on net that nicked a Georgia defender and bounced neatly into the back of the net.
 
Bonner's first goal of the season tied the match at 1-1 in the 85^th minute.
 
From that point, Samford decidedly regulated the pace of play and rattled off shot after shot on Georgia's net. The Bulldogs outshot Georgia, 8-1, in overtime.
 
Both goalkeepers turned in strong performances Friday. Samford's Anna Maddox allowed an early goal in the 11^th minute of action, but finished the match with six key saves. Georgia's Hogrell also tallied six stops in the draw.
 
Georgia's goal was scored by Sydney Shultis at 10:49 into the match and was assisted by Mariel Gutierrez.
 
Friday's draw marked Samford's first tie of the season and its first against Georgia. The Bulldogs are now 0-2-1 in the all-time series.
 
Samford has faced an arduous schedule this year with contests against Memphis, Alabama, No. 4 Florida State, Michigan State, Georgia and undefeated Kennesaw State.
 
Samford owns a 1-2-1 record at home this season and posted a lopsided 5-0 victory against Alabama State last week.
 
All three of Georgia's losses this season have come against quality opponents. The Bulldogs came up short against both Wake Forest and Virginia Tech by identical scores of 1-0 earlier in the 2017 campaign. Georgia's victories have occurred against Georgia Southern, 3-0, High Point, 1-0, and Charlotte, 1-0.
 
Georgia has scored six goals this season, all of which have all been tallied by different players.
 
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs begin a five-match road swing against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in a key matchup to be held at the WKU Soccer Complex in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
 
Samford will then continue its road stretch with consecutive matches at UC Davis, Saint Mary's (CA), Western Carolina and ETSU.
 
For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @SamfordSoccer and @Samford_Sports on Twitter. 

Watch Bonner's Match-Tying Goal
Box Score
Updated Stats