Samford Pulls Away From Women's Soccer
10/24/2009 2:17:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Four first-half goals for Samford (11-1-3, 6-1-2) put the match out of reach for the Georgia Southern women's soccer team (1-15-0, 1-8-0). The defense held the Bulldogs to one second half goal but he Eagles fall in a 5-0 decision Friday.
Samford opened their Senior Day match on the attack. Sara Wilkinson launched a header in the 5th minute forcing Missy Meyer (Alpharetta, Ga.) to make an early save. Amber Cress broke away from the defenders in the 7th minute and scored the opening goal of the match.
The Eagles got the offense started and responded to the early goal with a shot on goal in the eighth minute. Holly Dyer (Auburn, Ga.) put the shot on target and forced Alyssa Whitehead to make a skillful save.
The Bulldogs took control of the ball and got their second goal in the 15th minute. Natalie Fleming launched a shot from 10 yards out that sneaked into the bottom left corner of the net.
Leah Leppert added a third Samford goal in the 23rd minute off a deflected cross from Amber Cress.
The Eagles' offense got going again in the 24th minute, and received a shot from Candace Marshall (Bridgewater, Mass.) that missed to the left of the post.
Leppert recorded her second goal of the match in the 41st minute, giving the Bulldogs a 4-0 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs came out firing again in the second half and got a quick goal in the 51st minute. Hilary Samuels headed in a cross from Leah Leppert for her second goal of the season.
Georgia Southern controlled the ball and got the offense flowing late in the second half. Dyer put a second shot on target, but Whitehead made another save. Courtney Collins (Mason, Ohio) missed wide of the net in the 76th minute. Chelsea Kephart (Cumming, Ga.) found the target in the 84th minute and forced another save out of Whitehead.
The Eagles return to action Sunday at 2 p.m. in Chattanooga, Tenn. against the Mocs.
