KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Samford University soccer team will begin play in its 2012 regular season Friday at 6 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs square off against the Tennessee Lady Vols in a highly-anticipated non-conference matchup to be held at the Regal Soccer Stadium.
 
Samford heads into Friday's season-opening contest with high expectations after winning the Southern Conference's regular-season and tournament titles a year ago. The Bulldogs finished the 2011 campaign with a 14-6-2 overall record and earned a third NCAA Tournament appearance in seven years.
 
Samford also tallied an undefeated 9-0-2 record in SoCon play and compiled a school-record, 10-match winning streak.
 
Last week, the Bulldogs were honored by the SoCon's 12 head coaches as they were predicted to win the league's regular season. Samford received 10 of the possible 12 first-place votes and accrued a total of 120 total points.
 
The Bulldogs have been predicted to finish better in each of its five seasons in the SoCon. In previous years, Samford was tabbed to finish fourth in 2008, third in 2009 and second in both 2010 and 2011.
 
The 2012 version of the Bulldogs boasts eight returning starters from last season, as well as an additional six returning letterwinners from its record-setting 2011 squad.
 
In last Friday's exhibition contest against Georgia State, Samford battled the Panthers to a 0-0 draw in a weather-shortened contest held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. Samford outshot Georgia State, 14-4, and outnumbered the Panthers in corner kicks, 5-1. The Bulldogs registered a variety of close calls for goals and finished the action with four shots on target.  
 
Samford true freshman goalkeeper Jessica Perry stepped in net for the first time as a Bulldog on Friday and registered a shutout. The talented 5-foot-10 native of Webster Grove, Mo., faced four shots and made a diving save to lead Samford to the scoreless draw.
 
Tennessee embarks upon a new era of its program's history Friday under the direction of new head coach Brian Pensky. The Lady Vols bring back 17 returning players from a 2011 squad that went 15-7 with a top-16 seeding in the NCAA Tournament.
 
Tennessee boasts four players on the 2012 Preseason Southeastern Conference Watch List, including senior midfielder Kylie Bono (3 goals, seven assists, 17 points in 2011), senior midfielder/forward Caroline Brown (11 goals, eight assists, 30 points), sophomore goalkeeper Julie Eckel (15-7 record, 105 saves, 0.94 GAA, .833 save percentage) and senior midfielder Amy Harrison (three goals, one assist, seven points).
 
Last season, Samford and Tennessee met in an exhibition contest held in Birmingham, Ala., and the teams played to a scoreless draw.
 
Following Friday's season-opening matchup at Tennessee, Samford will next be in action on Aug. 24, as the Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a key in-state contest against the Alabama Crimson Tide to be held at 6 p.m. (CDT) at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.