BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University soccer team will square off against in-state rival Auburn on Friday as the Bulldogs are slated to face the Tigers at 7 p.m. (CDT) in a highly-anticipated, early-season matchup to be held at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
 
Samford (0-2) enters Friday's match with hopes of earning its first win of the young 2012 season. The Bulldogs have not shied away from playing against tough competition this year and are coming off a tight 2-1 road loss at Alabama last week.
 
In the hard-fought contest held at the Alabama Soccer Complex, Samford's Amanda Abbott nearly scored a dramatic match-tying goal with 11 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Crimson Tide's Shelby Church made a diving save to uphold the 2-1 outcome.
 
Samford's true freshman McKenzie Thomas, in her first collegiate match as a Bulldog, tallied Samford's goal last Friday as she chipped in a high, bouncing crossing pass from Trine Taule. On the goal-scoring play, Taule dribbled past a pair of Alabama defenders on the right side, lofted a spinning cross over to the left end of the box where Thomas fired a shot into the back of the net.
 
Following Thomas' second-half goal, the Bulldogs gained even more offensive momentum. Samford more than doubled their shot attempts in the second half of play and kept the Crimson Tide on its heels for a predominant portion of the final period.
 
The Bulldogs rattled off three shots on goal in the final 45 minutes of play, including Abbott's final, near equalizing attempt in the final seconds. Against Alabama last week, Samford true freshman goalkeeper Jessica Perry finished the match with seven saves.
 
Auburn (2-2) heads into Friday's contest looking to bounce back from a rough road trip to California last week. In their opening contest of a two-match road swing, the Tigers dropped a 2-1 decision at Pepperdine. Auburn was then shut out on Sunday against UC Irvine, 1-0.
 
The Tigers opened the 2012 campaign with a pair of strong triumphs versus Georgia State, 1-0, and High Point, 4-1. Both of Samford's victories occurred at home at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
 
Heading into Friday's matchup, all six of Auburn's goals have come from a trio of players as Alexa Allen, Tori Ball and Mary Coffed each have two this season.
 
Last year, Samford swept the Southern Conference's regular-season and tournament titles. 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.
 
Prior to the regular season, 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.
 
Friday's match will mark the ninth all-time meeting between Samford and Auburn. The Tigers hold a 7-0-1 advantage over the Bulldogs and have won two straight matches in the series dating back to 2009 when Samford battled to a 0-0 draw in a thrilling contest held at Bulldog Field.
 
Auburn opened the 2012 season as the 21^st-ranked team in the nation, but dropped out of the top 25 after last week's road losses.
 
Following Friday's contest at Auburn, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 6 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs play host to the UAB Blazers in a 2012 home-opening contest to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.