Box Score
Updated Samford StatsBIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team handed the Western Carolina Catamounts their first loss in exactly a month Sunday as the Bulldogs' offensive attack exploded for a 4-1 victory in a key Southern Conference contest held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
"I thought we played pretty well today," said Samford head coach
Todd Yelton. "We were a bit more direct than we have been in the past and our possession had a lot to do with it. Western Carolina is a very good team and I have to give a lot of credit to their coaches and what they've been accomplishing there. They already have a draw with Furman this season, so we definitely respect their team."
With the win,
Samford (7-6, 2-1 SoCon) improved its all-time record against
Western Carolina (5-4-4, 2-1-1 SoCon) to 5-1-1. The Bulldogs haven't been defeated by the Catamounts since 2008 and currently boast a five-match undefeated streak in the series.
Samford scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes of action Sunday to stun the defensive-minded Western Carolina squad en route to a quick 2-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs' first goal of the contest was scored by senior midfielder
Ariane Lukens on a brilliant header from 10 yards out. On the score, sophomore forward
Malcanisha Kelley served a cross deep into the box from the right side and Lukens angled it back to the top right corner from her position on the left third of the field.
The early, momentum-building goal proved to be Lukens' second of the season and gave Samford a 1-0 lead just 12:48 into the match. Kelley's assist was her first of two on the day as she upped her points total on the year to 13.
Unbelievably, Samford's second goal might have been even prettier than its first.
Exactly seven minutes after Lukens' tally, the Bulldogs'
Jermaine Seoposenwe fired a one-time, left-footed laser from 20 yards out perfectly into the top right corner of the net. Seoposenwe's stellar goal was set up nicely by
Heather Lacy as she registered the first assist of her Samford career.
The Bulldogs garnered their critical 2-0 lead early in the first half and took the advantage into halftime. In the opening period, Western Carolina outshot Samford, 6-4.
"Those two early goals were pretty much world-class, to be honest with you," Yelton said. "The header that Ariane scored was awesome and even the full volley that Jermaine scored was one of the best I've seen in a long time. It was great to get the early momentum and we're very happy to get the win today."
Early in Sunday's second half, the Bulldogs' offensive expertise continued to excel as senior
Amanda Abbott scored her fourth goal of the season at 52:34 to give Samford a 3-0 lead. On the goal, Abbott collected a quick through pass from Kelley and rifled a shot high into the net directly above goalkeeper Carly Tintsman.
Samford added its fourth goal of the match in the 61
st minute as Seoposenwe converted a penalty-kick opportunity. The Bulldogs boast a perfect 3-for-3 conversion rate on penalty kicks this season, with two of them coming off the foot of Seoposenwe.
The penalty-kick chance was set in place as Seoposenwe was dragged down in the box by a pair of Western Carolina defenders. Samford's speedy native of Cape Town, South Africa, then calmly drilled the shot into the top left corner of the next to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 advantage.
"I'm just happy with the entire squad right now," Yelton said. "I'm especially happy with the leadership that
Katie Danehy showed today. I thought she set the tone early and did a fantastic job from that standpoint. We were shorthanded as well without Taylor (Borman) or
Brittany Hoffman, so some other players really had to step up and they did."
Western Carolina's lone score of the match occurred in the 71
st minute as Courtney Rosu knocked home her third goal of the season to make the score 4-1.
Samford's true freshman goalkeeper
Anna Maddox turned in a brilliant performance Sunday. The Bulldogs' 6-foot native of Warner Robins, Ga., registered seven key saves and faced 14 shot attempts from the Catamounts.
"I thought Anna had a great game," said Yelton. "To be honest with you, the three goals scored Friday, there was not really much she could have done with those. She's growing as a player and I'm really happy with how she's progressed this year as a true freshman."
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 4 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs begin an arduous four-match road swing against conference-newcomer VMI to be held at Patchin Field in Lexington, Va.
"Before today, we were only 1-4 at home, so maybe we should want to go on the road," Yelton said. "VMI is a really tough place to play and UNCG has always been a traditional rival of ours, and now they have a new coach, so I'm sure there will be some new twists to that matchup as well. The SoCon is a tough league and I can certainly tell you that this season is going to be as demanding as it ever was."
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Box Score
Updated Samford Stats
