Box score (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Freshman Katherine Rodriguez (Franklin, Tenn./Father Ryan) header home the game-winning goal in the 41st minute to ignite UNCG women's soccer to a 1-0 win against Samford Friday night at Samford Soccer Stadium. The Spartans overtake the Bulldogs for first place in the Southern Conference with the win and snap Samford's 22-game conference unbeaten streak.  

UNCG continues its road dominance in the SoCon as the Spartans are unbeaten in their last 19 road games. With the victory, the Spartans improve to 10-6-1 overall and a SoCon leading 7-1-1 conference record. The Bulldogs fall to 9-6-2 with a 6-1-2 mark in the SoCon. UNCG picked up its fourth-straight shutout and all have been 1-0 victories.

The Blue and Gold now control their own destiny with just two games remaining in the conference schedule and can win the regular season with two more wins.

Freshman goalkeeper Jamie Simmons (Houston, Texas/Clear Brook) picked up her sixth shutout of the season after collecting four saves. Simmons has pushed her streak of minutes without giving up a goal to a season-high 409:20.

The backline of UNCG did another stellar job in stopping a powerful Samford attack led by seniors Cat Barnekow (Santa Rosa, Calif./Santa Rosa) and Tinna Bergthorsdottir (Reykjavik, Iceland/Menntaskolinn Vid Sund).

UNCG took a 1-0 lead into halftime after junior Nitang Jones (Raleigh, N.C./Leesville Road) placed a perfect corner kick into the box where freshman Katherine Rodriguez (Franklin, Tenn./Franklin) headed home her second goal of the season in the 41^st minute.

Both teams came out firing as Samford's Kaley Blanton hit the post in the first minute, while Barnekow had a shot on goal but Bulldogs' keeper Melissa Montgomery made the save just two minutes into the contest.  

Simmons faced 11 shots during the first half and made two saves to keep the Spartans ahead.

In the second half, the Spartans held off Samford as Simmons made two key saves in the final 15 minutes of action.

UNCG remains on the road to face Chattanooga Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Be sure to follow all updates about the 2012 UNCG women's soccer team on www.uncgspartans.com or on twitter @UNCGsports.

- UNCG -