Mancino Goal Leads Samford To SoCon Title.
“This was a huge win for us today and I am so proud of our players,” said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. “I also want to thank the volleyball team for sticking around in Greensboro and cheering on our team. They were the 12th man for us and I think it really lifted our spirits throughout the match. This is a special team and I’m just glad that we get to represent Samford University in the NCAA Tournament.”
Junior Adrianne Mancino scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to secure the Bulldogs’ win and Samford’s first SoCon Tournament title. The score was Mancino’s third of the 2011 campaign.
With the victory, Samford (14-5-2) extended its winning streak to a school-record 10 straight matches. The Bulldogs also increased their school-record undefeated streak to 14-consecutive contests. Samford has not been defeated since a hard-fought 2-0 setback at Vanderbilt on Sept. 18.
“Anytime you go 14 matches without a loss, it is really something special,” Yelton said. “We’ve won a lot of tight games throughout the stretch and today was no different. I’m so proud of our players for how resilient and hard-working they have been this season.”
The Bulldogs advanced to the 2011 NCAA Tournament, which begins Friday at sites around the country. The selection show will air Monday at 3:30 p.m. (CDT) on NCAA.com.
Mancino’s blast from 25 yards out with less than three minutes remaining in regulation proved to be the winning tally as No. 1-seed Samford defeated No. 3 College of Charleston (13-8-1), 1-0, in Sunday’s championship match held at the UNCG Soccer Stadium.
On the decisive score, Mancino collected the ball and dribbled into space before launching her shot just above the outstretched arms of Charleston goalkeeper Cricket Wise at the 87:29 mark. The goal spoiled an exceptional effort by Wise who recorded five saves and kept the Bulldogs at bay for much of the match.
“On Mancino’s goal, you could sort of see it developing, especially from our vantage point where our bench was located,” said Yelton. “She found an opening in the defense and struck the ball well. She’s a special player and even as a defender, she has the ability to find the back of the net. I told her earlier that if she had a chance to charge to goal then she should do it, and she really made a huge play for us.”
Samford goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead notched her eighth shutout of the season, and second of the weekend, while corralling four shots. The clean sheet was the 34th of Whitehead’s career, moving her into a tie with UNCG’s Kelsey Kearney for the second-most in conference history and the most among active players.
The Bulldogs’ Shanika Thomas was named the Most Outstanding Player of the SoCon Tournament, while Samford’s Mancino, Sarah Wilkinson and Whitehead were also named to the all-tournament team.
All-Tournament Team Alyssa Althoff, Furman Caitlin Shelton, Furman Katie Merson, Georgia Southern Sara Oland, Georgia Southern Hope Atkinson, College of Charleston Hannah Gmerek, College of Charleston Sarah Schaidle, College of Charleston Adrianne Mancino, Samford Shanika Thomas, Samford Alyssa Whitehead, Samford Sarah Wilkinson, Samford
Most Outstanding Player – Shanika Thomas, Samford