Aug. 21, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford University soccer team will play its second road match in three days Sunday as the Bulldogs travel to Memphis, Tenn., for another early-season test against the 18th-ranked Memphis Tigers. The non-conference matchup will be held at 6 p.m. (CST) at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

"I think that Memphis is going to be a really good team this season," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "They are always a tough team to play and the biggest challenge for us is that we spent a lot of energy against Alabama last night. We'll just have to try to recoup and play against a really talented team in Memphis on Sunday."

On Friday, Samford (0-1) opened its 2010 campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 loss at Alabama. In the defeat, the Bulldogs' lone goal was scored by sophomore Lindsay Matern. Junior forward Lauren Cook tallied the assist on Matern's second-half score.

Samford goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead registered eight saves against Alabama. The Bulldogs' 6-foot-3 junior from Hattiesburg, Miss., will be making her 30th-consecutive start in goal Sunday. Last season, Whitehead led the nation in goals-against average with a miniscule mark of 0.31.

Memphis (1-0) heads into Sunday's contest with a full head of steam after the nationally-ranked squad picked up a momentous 2-1 victory at Saint Louis on Friday. In the thrilling road win, the Lady Tigers' Lizzy Hildebrandt scored the game-winning goal in the 78th minute of play. Memphis' opening goal was tallied by Alena Strnadova.

Strnadova gave the Lady Tigers' their early lead by scoring in the 39th minute. On the score, she dribbled inside the 18-yard box and fired a low shot that went inside the right post. Strnadova was credited with her first collegiate goal on the unassisted score.

"Memphis is an extremely well-coached team and they are going to do whatever it takes to try to get the win," Yelton said. "Brooks (Monaghan) is an outstanding coach and he's done a great job with that program. They are going to be a very tough team to face and it should be an outstanding match."

Samford owns a 3-0 all-time record against Memphis. In the most recent meeting between the teams, the Bulldogs registered a 1-0 victory at home Sept. 8, 2007.

Samford's Lauren Cook, now a junior, scored the game-winning goal in the match during her freshman season. Cook was later named the Most Valuable Player of the 2007 Barber's Invitational after helping guide the Bulldogs to a 2-0 record in the tournament.

Since 2005, Samford and Memphis have squared off three times with the Bulldogs winning twice at home and once in Memphis. Samford's road victory in the series occurred in 2006 when the Bulldogs posted a 1-0 victory at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

Following Sunday's duel with No. 18 Memphis, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m. (CST) as the Bulldogs begin a five-match homestand against the Mercer Bears at Bulldog Field.

GameTracker - Samford at No. 18 Memphis