2008 Woodie Awards
Soccer receives second chance in NCAA Tourney
Ben Hankins
Issue date: 11/14/07 Section: Sports
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Their dreams were revived on Monday night when the NCAA gave the Bulldogs their first-ever at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The team will have a chance to lengthen its season even further when they take on LSU in the national tournament this Friday.
The bid marks the second time in three seasons that the Bulldogs have made the tournament, something Coach Todd Yelton said is a great accomplishment.
"The team is incredibly excited about the bid," Yelton said just minutes after the NCAA's announcement. "We are relieved we will be able to continue our season."
Sophomore forward Natalie Fleming said the team "went crazy" when they found out about the bid.
"We all went to Coach's house to watch the announcement on ESPN News," Fleming said. "Everyone was really excited when we found out. We were not expecting it. Everyone thought we were a long shot."
Yelton said Samford's match-up against LSU won't be an easy one. The showdown also features a little personal trivia. Yelton said that he and the Bayou Bengals' head coach are best friends.
"This game will be tough for us. It will be a great battle for sure," Yelton said.
Yelton also said the team's bid illustrated what he and his staff have tried to accomplish since they arrived at Samford in 2002.
"Six years ago, we came here with the goal of putting Samford soccer on the national map. An at-large bid in the national tournament shows that we've accomplished something," Yelton said.
The Bulldogs were tied with Southeast Missouri 1-1 through two overtimes on Sunday but lost on penalty kicks 5-4 in the second overtime to drop the match.
Yelton said his team did all it could do against the Redhawks.
"Our team played tough today and battled hard," Yelton said after the tournament on Sunday. "They did everything that they could possibly do out there, and it was a typical Samford-Southeast Missouri match."
Southeast Missouri has become a familiar foe for Samford. The Redhawks beat the Bulldogs in last year's OVC title game and served them their only regular-season conference loss this season. Both of this year's losses were on the road.
"Playing Southeast Missouri at their place isn't easy, especially on that turf they have, and I'm proud of how we were able to fight to the end," Yelton said.
Southeast Missouri plays on a unique, slick style of field turf. Yelton said it is hard to get used to playing on the turf unless you practice on it everyday. Most college teams play on a grass surface.
Fleming said the atmosphere after the Southeast game was completely different from the one created at the coach's house.
"Everyone was really upset after Sunday's game. The seniors were crying; everyone thought it was the end. The at-large bid changes everything and gives us another chance," Fleming said.
Prior to this season, the Bulldogs were bolstering four straight regular-season OVC championships. That accomplishment still stands as a conference record.
The Bulldogs will aim to extend their legacy in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.