110 Minutes not Enough Time to Settle Dispute, Bulldogs Tie Blazers on Opening Night 1-1

On a windy night across the street from Samford's campus, the Bulldogs (0-0-1) started their SOCON Champion defense. The first half started with a bang as UAB (3-2-1) scored their lone goal of the night after just 6 and a half minutes. UAB was only able to get off 5 more shots for the entire half. Samford tallied 7 shots in the half. In the second half, the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of some chaos in front of the net and Taylor Yount poked in the equalizing goal 4 minutes after the teams returned from the locker rooms. The Bulldogs nearly pulled up one goal 5 or so minutes later with a cross, but the ball hit off the far post and was snatched up by the diving UAB goalie. Throughout the game, players kept finding the ground, in part because of the slick field conditions due to the rain last night, and in part due to the very physical game on the field. In the 4 periods of the game, UAB tallied 13 fouls and one yellow card and Samford drew the ire of the referee 12 times and was also shown one yellow card.

Both sides flipped their energy levels in the game. For UAB, they seemed sluggish for almost all of the second half, but caught their second wind for the overtime periods. Samford seemed to spend all of their energy in the second half and couldn't quite track down through balls as easily during the bonus soccer. Perhaps this could be attributed to this game having been UAB's 6th game while Samford had only had practices before tonight. The overtime periods were not without controversy. In the first period, Samford was robbed of a penalty kick as the Blazer defender got all ankle on the tackle. In the second, UAB was extended the same treatment, however, everyone in the stadium could see the referee raise his whistle to his mouth and then change his mind. Both times, the crowd became very animated as it was clear the referee completely botched the call. While I generally try to refrain from blaming the refs for causing the outcome of the game since 99/100 times one team could have shot better, made more plays on defense, etc., a correctly called penalty in the first overtime would have had a good chance to end the game there. However, I do applaud the referee for keeping the same standard for what was technically a foul warranting a PK for the visiting Blazers as it treated both teams to the same call.

The Bulldogs will travel to Oxford, MS to take on the Rebels one week from today. They will then open SOCON play @ Chattanooga on March 5th, before returning home to Samford on the 12th where they will play host to the Catamounts of WCU.

Photo by Chase Cochran