LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Samford University soccer team will face its fourth Southeastern Conference opponent in six matches Sunday as the Bulldogs square off against the Kentucky Wildcats at 11 a.m. (CDT) on the final day of the Courtyard by Marriott Louisville Airport Cardinal Classic being hosted by the University of Louisville.
 
Samford (2-3) opened its arduous non-conference schedule with three-consecutive road losses at SEC foes Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn. Since starting the season with a hard-fought 0-3 record, the Bulldogs have since rattled off back-to-back victories against UAB, 3-1, and Toledo, 1-0.
 
In Friday's thrilling double-overtime triumph against Toledo, Samford's Kaley Blanton scored with less than three minutes remaining to propel the Bulldogs to their momentous 1-0 victory. Blanton's golden goal was scored at exactly 7:03 in the double-overtime period and lifted Samford to its second straight triumph.
 
On Blanton's game-winning score, Samford's senior forward from Mandeville, La., sprinted quickly down the right side of the field. Using her blazing speed, Blanton ran past a pair of Toledo defenders and gathered a pass from junior Jordan Johnson. She then shifted towards the middle of the field and rifled off a shot that beat the Rockets' goalkeeper just inside the post.
 
Blanton's goal was her first of the season, while Johnson's assist was her second in as many matches.
 
Samford true freshman goalkeeper Jessica Perry tallied her first career shutout Friday and finished the match with three key saves. The Bulldogs' highly-touted native of Webster Groves, Mo., made her third start of the season.
 
Kentucky (5-0) heads into Sunday's contest with a full head of steam after knocking off 12th-ranked Louisville, 2-0, on Friday. In their first road match of the 2012 season, the Wildcats used goals from freshman Kelli Hubly and junior Natalie Horner, coupled with spectacular goalkeeping from Kayla King to earn the upset victory.
 
The win over No. 12 Louisville was Kentucky's first win over a ranked opponent since the Wildcats took down 14^th-ranked Tennessee on Oct. 14, 2011. Kentucky, under Head Coach Jon Lipsitz, has won four matches against ranked teams in his four years at the helm.
 
The Wildcats opened their season with home victories over Coastal Carolina, 2-0, Eastern Kentucky, 2-1, UNCG, 2-0, and Southeast Missouri, 1-0. Samford and Kentucky have never met on the pitch and Sunday's match will be the first contest between the teams.
 
Following Sunday's non-conference matchup against Kentucky, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Kennesaw State Owls to the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium for another key early-season, non-conference showdown.