Sept. 29, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team will compete in its first home match of the 2005 Ohio Valley Conference season on Friday as the Bulldogs play host to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at 7 p.m.

The critical league contest will be the third installment of Samford Athletic Department's "Rivalry Week" presented by Alabama Power.

"This is definitely an important match," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Every time you play against a conference opponent it is huge and this is even a little bit bigger, because it's a rivalry game."

Samford (6-2-2, 1-1 OVC) enters Friday's contest with a perfect 4-0 record at Bulldog Field this season and has won three-consecutive matches against the Gamecocks.

The Bulldogs are coming off a resounding 4-0 victory over Morehead State on Sunday and are currently tied for fourth place in the conference standings. Samford shares the OVC's fourth position with Eastern Kentucky, which handed the Bulldogs their first road conference loss in nearly two seasons on Sept. 23.

"We're playing against one of the top teams in the conference and Jacksonville State is going to come out with a lot of energy," Yelton said. "They've won four matches in a row and they are a confident team. It is definitely going to take our best effort tomorrow."

Jacksonville State (5-4-1, 2-0 OVC) heads into Friday's matchup as the OVC's hottest team, sporting a four-match winning streak.

The Gamecocks have won consecutive contests against Mercer, 1-0, Southern Miss, 2-0, Morehead State, 1-0, and Eastern Kentucky, 2-0. Following the opening weekend of OVC play, Jacksonville State is currently tied for first place in the conference standings along with both Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech.

Samford's Marian Wagner is just one goal shy of becoming the school's all-time leader in goals scored.

The Bulldogs' senior forward from Spring, Texas, has scored a total of 25 goals in her collegiate career and is currently tied for first place on the all-time list along with 2004-graduate Lindsay Shanks. Wagner is ranked second on the team in both points (9) and goals (3) this season, and is tied for third on the squad with three assists.

Samford holds a 6-4-1 all-time record against Jacksonville State.

Since both teams joined the OVC in 2003, Samford and Jacksonville State have faced off three times, with the Bulldogs winning all three matches.

"It's going to be a huge advantage for us to be playing at home," said Yelton. "I always say that there's nothing like playing at Bulldog Field and we have great support from our student body."

The Samford University soccer team will attempt to remain undefeated at home this season on Friday as the Bulldogs host in-state rival Jacksonville State in a critical OVC matchup beginning at 7 p.m., at Bulldog Field.