Sept. 2, 2007
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - In a physical affair that featured 37 total fouls and four yellow cards, Samford netted three second half goals to down Kennesaw State, 3-0, in the final match of the 2007 Samford Barber's Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
The loss drops KSU to 0-2 on the year, marking the first time in the program's six-year history that the Owls have failed to win at least one of the opening two contests of a season. With the win, Samford improves to 2-0.
Despite the 0-2 weekend, KSU had two athletes make the all-tournament team in Bridget Gaughan and Annie Phillips.
Both teams used the first 20 minutes to feel one another out, with neither squad materializing much of a scoring chance. KSU provided the first major opportunity to pull ahead when in the 22nd Beth Meadors put her first shot of the match on target, only to be saved by Samford keeper, Cayley Winters.
The Owls' best chance in the first half came just seconds before halftime as Annie Phillips had a go at goal but just as was the case with Meadors, her shot was stifled by Winters, preserving the 0-0 score heading into the intermission.
The host Bulldogs netted the game's first goal just 25 seconds into the second stanza after a breakdown in the Owl's defense. Hilary Samuels scored the game winner when she slammed home a cross from 10 yards out after Leah Leppert sent a perfect ball into the box. Owls' keeper Katie Piotrowski tried her best to make the save but it was to no avail as Samford pulled ahead, 1-0
Kennesaw State looked to respond ten minutes later when Maylee Attin-Johnson had the Owls' best opportunity of the match, but her header was sent away by Winters, who finished with four saves on the afternoon.
The second goal of the match came in the 64th minute when Lauren Cook connected on a penalty kick after an Owls foul in the box. The Samford forward scored her second goal of the match and her third of the season in the 90th minute after her deflected header found the upper right corner, giving the Bulldogs the 3-0 victory.
Despite recording nine shots, KSU could not manage a goal and was held scoreless for the first time in 14 matches, dating back to the Owls' 0-0 draw with Wofford last season.
The Owls will continue their three-game road trip when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Friday night to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide at 8:00 pm (ET). KSU will play its first home match next Sunday, September 9, against Wofford at 2:00 pm at the KSU Soccer Complex.
2007 Samford Barber's Invitational
All-Tournament Team
Lauren Cook, Samford (MVP)
Heather Birdsell, Samford
Treena Ferguson, Mississippi State
Bethany Frazier, Mississippi State
Katelyn Graben, Mississippi State
Bridget Gaughan, Kennesaw State
Colette Nammour, Samford
Annie Phillips, Kennesaw State
Lauren Santos, Georgia Southern
Cindy Spiker, Samford
Heather Smith, Georgia Southern
