November 6, 2010

ROME, Ga. - Amber Elam scored with 28 seconds left in the first overtime to send No. 24-ranked and third-seeded Auburn University-Montgomery to a 1-0 victory over Shorter University in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Southern States Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Ben Brady Field.

Elam's goal - it was her second against Shorter this season after she scored against the Lady Hawks in a 2-1 AUM win in Montgomery back on Aug. 28 - allows the Lady Senators (12-6), seeded third out of the SSAC's West Division, to advance into the semifinal round which will take place in Gulfport, Miss., next week.

Shorter bows out of the tournament with a 10-8-1 record. The 10 wins are the most for the Lady Hawks since the 2002 squad went 11-9.

The Lady Hawks outshot AUM 14-9, but could not put an attempt past AUM keeper Daisy Burnfield, who stopped all seven of Shorter's shots that found the target.

Shorter, which earlier in the season set a school record with six straight victories, did well to produce several golden chances in each half, but each time was stoned on the doorstep by Burnfield.

Senior Lynde Pas nearly put the Lady Hawks ahead in the first half off a corner, but saw her first and second attempts saved by Burnfield.

Burnfield then denied Brandi Greenwald on a breakaway from 20 yards out in the 68th minute to maintain the 0-0 score.

In the overtime, Shorter unleashed three shots in the 96th minute, but one was blocked by a Lady Senator defender and two were saved by Burnfield.

Elam ended matters just moments later off a corner that was kicked around in the box. Elam pounced for her team-leading 12th goal, a strike that sent AUM into the semifinals.

Greenwald, Pas and Helena Farinha each recorded two shots on goal for the Lady Hawks.