Sept. 19, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The undefeated Samford soccer team will attempt to extend its winning streak to five-consecutive matches Sunday as the Bulldogs host the Winthrop Lady Eagles at 1 p.m., at Bulldog Field. Samford was scheduled to play at Kennesaw State on Friday, but the nonconference match was postponed due to unplayable field conditions.

Samford (4-0-1) enters Sunday's contest as one of only five teams in the nation that hasn't allowed a goal this season. In five matches this year, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents by a total of 8-0. Samford is also one of only 20 teams in the nation that hasn't suffered a loss.

So far this season, the Bulldogs have tied 25th-ranked Auburn 0-0 on Aug. 23, and then rattled off four-consecutive nonconference victories against Alabama 3-0, Francis Marion 3-0, Texas State 1-0 and Belmont 1-0. Samford's last defeat was a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Western Carolina in the semifinal round of the Southern Conference Tournament on Nov. 7, 2008.

The Bulldogs' goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead is the reigning SoCon Player of the Week after she tallied four key saves in a 1-0 shutout victory at Belmont on Sunday. Whitehead has already accumulated 21 saves this season en route to compiling four complete-game shutouts.

Samford's offensive attack this year has been paced by senior forward Amber Cress and sophomore forward Sarah Wilkinson. Both of the aforementioned players have scored three goals this season, while Cress has also added a pair of assists.

Cress, a native of Zionsville, Ind., is currently ranked fourth on Samford's all-time goals-scored list with 19. She only needs seven more goals this season to become the school's all-time leader in the category.

Winthrop (2-3-1) heads into Sunday's matchup riding a positive wave of momentum after the Lady Eagles picked up their second-consecutive victory Friday at Wofford 2-1. In the thrilling double-overtime win, Winthrop freshman Allie VandeWater's first career goal came during the sixth minute of play in the second overtime period at Snyder Field.

The goal by VandeWater came after a shot by freshman Kylie Long deflected off a Wofford defender and landed at her feet after slipping past the defense. She immediately put her shot in the upper left of the net. The goal came less than one minute after VandeWater had entered the contest.

Sunday's match will be Winthrop's third straight against a Southern Conference opponent. Last week, the Lady Eagles traveled to Boone, N.C., and picked up a 1-0 victory at Appalachian State. The win was Winthrop's first of the 2009 campaign.

Samford owns a 1-0-1 all-time record against Winthrop. The previous matchup between the teams occurred Sept. 10, 2006, as the Bulldogs earned a 1-0 victory at Bulldog Field. The inaugural meeting between Samford and Winthrop took place Sept. 11, 2005. The contest was held in Rock Hill, S.C., and the teams fought to a scoreless draw.

Following Sunday's matchup with Winthrop, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 3 p.m., as the Bulldogs open SoCon play with a road contest against The Citadel Bulldogs in Charleston, S.C.

GameTracker - Winthrop at Samford