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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team will attempt to extend its winning streak to four-consecutive matches Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs play host to the Georgia State Panthers in a pivotal non-conference battle to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
Samford (5-2) heads into the contest riding the positive momentum of a three-match winning streak. Since losing at Texas, 2-0, on Sept. 6, the Bulldogs have rattled off consecutive victories against UTSA, 2-0, Vanderbilt 3-2 (2OT) and Kennesaw State on Tuesday, 3-0.
 
In its most recent victory, Samford used a pair of goals from junior forward Amanda Abbott and a second-half score from senior midfielder Trine Taule to register the 3-0 triumph. Abbott's goals were tallied in the 41^st and 52^nd minutes, while Taule's strike was added in the 73^rd.
 
Abbott, the Bulldogs' speedy native of Marietta, Ga., notched her second and third goals of the season Tuesday. She also recorded her second game-winning goal of the young 2013 campaign.
 
Taule, who was named the Southern Conference's Player of the Week earlier on Tuesday, also improved her goals-scored total to three this season. Samford's highly-competitive native of Frekhaug, Norway, increased her career goals total to 19 and moved into a tie for sixth place on the school's all-time list.
 
The Bulldogs' true freshman goalkeeper Katie Peters earned her fourth shutout of the 2013 season and dropped her stellar goals-against average to 0.83. As one of the nation's top incoming recruits of this year's class, Peters faced seven shots Tuesday and registered three critical saves. Samford's native of Greenfield, Ind., has already made 30 saves this season.
 
Georgia State (1-4-1) has also played against Vanderbilt and Kennesaw State this season. On Sept. 6, the Panthers were edged by the Owls at home, 1-0. Then, on Sept. 15, Georgia State traveled to Vanderbilt and suffered a lopsided 4-0 defeat.
 
The Panthers opened their 2013 season with a 1-1 draw with Mercer and later earned a 1-0 win against UT Martin on the road Sept. 13.
 
Friday's match will mark the seventh all-time meeting between Samford and Georgia State. The Bulldogs own a decisive 5-0-1 record in the series, but the teams haven't squared off in a regular-season contest since Sept. 21, 2002, when they played to a hard-fought 1-1 draw held at Bulldog Field.
 
All-time, Samford has outscored the Panthers, 14-4.
 
Last season, the Bulldogs played host to Georgia State in an exhibition match and the teams battled to a rain-soaked 0-0 draw.
 
Admission is FREE to Friday's match and football tickets for Saturday's home-opener against Southeastern Louisiana will be sold for $5.
 
Following Friday's key home matchup, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs begin Southern Conference play at home against the defending SoCon Tournament champs, the Georgia Southern Eagles. Next week's contest will be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Samford soccer please follow @Samford_Sports and @SamfordSoccer on Twitter.

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