Soccer Beats Samford, Four-Match Winning Streak Sets School Record

Sunday, October 9

Birmingham, Ala.

2:00 p.m.

Murray State

Samford

Soccer Beats Samford, Four-Match Winning Streak Sets School Record

10/9/2005 5:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer

Murray State University's soccer team set a new school record with its fourth consecutive win today, beating Samford University, 1-0, in Birmingham, Ala. The Racers (5-8-1, 4-2-0 OVC) move into second place in the Ohio Valley Conference after earning their first ever victory over the Bulldogs. The loss was the first at home for Samford this season, which had been 6-0 in Birmingham.

Murray State managed just six shots and only one shot-on-goal, but that one shot was enough. Rebekah Clay's unassisted goal in the 31^st minute proved to be all Murray State would need as MSU goalkeeper Heather Jones made five saves in shutting out the Bulldogs.

Clay earned possession 20 yards out and kicked the ball forward towards the net. After bouncing around among a trio of Samford defenders, Clay regained control of the ball and fired a shot that deflected into the net off the right post. The goal was the fifth of the season and the fourth in the last four games for Clay, a freshman from Bloomington, Ill.

Jones, a junior from Canton, Mich., played all 90 minutes on her way to earning her second shutout of the season.

Samford's best scoring opportunity occurred early in the first half of play when junior Sara Geiger's shot caromed off the crossbar during the 16th minute.

Immediately following Geiger's attempt, the ball bounded back to Marian Wagner who then one-timed a shot towards the middle of the net. The goal would have given Samford an early 1-0 lead, but Jones, made a juggling save to keep the match scoreless.

The Bulldogs could only get off two attempts to tie the match in the final five minutes. Both Wagner's shot at 85:55 and Rebecca Bohler's with 2:11 remaining sailed high over the goal.

Samford attempted 13 shots and held a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Cayley Winters allowed the one goal and did not make a save while playing the entire game in goal for the Bulldogs.

Murray State improves to 1-4 all-time against Samford.

The Racers will try to make it five in a row on Thursday when they make the trip to Martin, Tenn., to face Tennessee-Martin at 3:00 p.m. The match was originally scheduled for Saturday but was recently moved to Thursday.