Nov. 6, 2008

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - For the second time in two weeks, the Samford soccer team will square off against the Western Carolina Catamounts in a key Southern Conference showdown. On Friday at 6 p.m. (CT), the teams are scheduled to meet in the semifinal round of the 2008 SoCon Tournament being held at the Patriots Point Athletic Complex.

The winner of Friday's matchup will advance to the championship game of the SoCon Tournament on Sunday at noon (CT).

Samford (9-8-3) heads into the semifinal round of the conference championships as the third-seeded team in the tournament.

The Bulldogs finished SoCon play with an impressive 8-1-2 record and used a 4-1 victory in penalty kicks to advance past the sixth-seeded College of Charleston on Sunday. In the opening-round matchup held at Samford's Bulldog Field, the teams played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer before the penalty-kick shootout.

Samford entered the SoCon Tournament as one of the hottest teams in the conference. The Bulldogs are in the midst of a nine-game undefeated streak and have not lost a game since Oct. 3. Since then, Samford has outscored its opponents by a total of 16-3.

Western Carolina (12-7-1) enters Friday's competition as the second-seeded team in the SoCon Tournament. The Catamounts earned a 9-2 record in conference play this season and advanced to the semifinal round of the eight-team tournament by advancing past seventh-seeded Furman in penalty kicks, 4-3.

In its previous 13 games, Western Carolina has compiled an impressive 10-2-1 record. The Catamounts have outscored their opponents 23-10 during the stretch with two being the most goals they've allowed in a single contest.

Less than two weeks ago, Samford and Western Carolina squared off at the Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, N.C., on Oct. 26. In the critical SoCon matchup, the Bulldogs rallied for a critical 2-1 victory behind Caroline Baxter's game-winning goal during the 82nd minute of play.

Samford's redshirt freshman Sarah Wilkinson also tallied her second goal in as many games during the first half and true freshman goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead pulled down six saves. Western Carolina's lone goal of the game was scored by Kayla Beauduy in the opening minute of the second half.

The Bulldogs' meeting with the Catamounts earlier this season was the only time in history that the teams squared off on the soccer pitch. Samford owns a 1-0 record in the all-time series.

Both Samford and Western Carolina boast balanced offensive attacks. The Bulldogs' top goal-scorers this season are junior Amber Cress and Wilkinson who have scored five goals apiece. The Catamounts are currently being led by a trio of players with five goals this year: Beauduy, Bri Cunningham and Shanna Schmoker.

The winners of Friday's semifinal matches at the 2008 SoCon Tournament will advance to Sunday's championship game beginning at noon (CT).

Regular-season champion UNC Greensboro (16-4-1) will square off against fifth-seeded Furman (14-6-1) in Friday's first semifinal matchup at 4 p.m. (CT). Samford and Western Carolina will then follow in the nightcap to begin at 6 p.m. (CT).

GameTracker - Samford vs. Western Carolina
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