Nov. 8, 2001

ORLANDO, FL - Florida Atlantic University advanced to the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship Thursday with a 4-1 victory over Samford University. FAU entered the tournament as the no. 3 seed while Samford was no. 6.p>

Sophomore Rhonda Jones scored two goals while Kari Kaiser and Lisanne Peart each added a goal in the effort. Jones also added an assist while Kaiser assisted on two additional scores.

Samford opened the scoring at the 22:45 mark of the first half on a goal by sophomore Lisa Robishaw. Freshman Heather Pomper started the play with a throw-in that went off an FAU defender to Robishaw. Robishaw was able to control the ball and send a shot over sophomore goalkeeper Molly Keating for a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Owls responded quickly by tying the score just twelve seconds later. That's when Kaiser dribbled around the Samford defense and sent a pass back to Jones, who one-timed a shot past senior goalkeeper Carrie Ollom to even the match at 1-1. Seven minutes later, the Lady Owls took the lead for good. Peart came off the bench to score at the 29:40 mark with assists going to freshman Brandi Herrmann and Kaiser. The goal was Peart's seventh of the season.

FAU would score one more before halftime for a 3-1 lead. Freshman Janine Aylward sent a corner kick into the box, and Jones headed it in for her second of the day and seventh of the season.

Kaiser scored the only goal of the second half at the 48:53 mark. Sophomore Danielle Castro sent a free-kick in to the box that the Samford goalkeeper, Cassie Coggins, was unable to hold onto. Jones redirected the rebound, but was unable to get it past Coggins. Kaiser took the second rebound and sent it past Coggins for her fifth goal of the season and a 4-1 lead.

The Lady Owls played a solid defensive game in the second half limiting Samford to just one shot. FAU outshot Samford for the match, 13-6, as Keating registered four saves.

With the win, the Lady Owls advance to Friday's semifinal match where they will play no. 2 seed Campbell University. FAU improves to 13-4-1 on the season and extends their record winning streak to nine matches and unbeaten streak to 10. Samford finishes the season at 7-10-2.

Campbell defeated FAU during the regular season 1-0 in Boca Raton. The match is scheduled to begin at 4:30pm at the UCF Field.