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GameTrackerCOLUMBIA, S.C. -- Samford head soccer coach
Todd Yelton has never shied away from playing a difficult non-conference schedule and this season's slate is certainly no different as the Bulldogs head to play the 14
th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks Sunday in a key Southeast Region matchup to be held at 5 p.m. (CDT) at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium.
Samford (0-1), which will also play huge non-conference contests against perennial NCAA Tournament squads Virginia and Auburn this season, is coming off a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Friday.
In their tough 2014-opening defeat, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 14
th minute of play behind a goal from super sophomore
Malcanisha Kelley. The score proved to be ninth goal of her young, up-and-coming career. Samford's talented native of Childersburg has already scored nine goals in only 22 career matches.
Kelley's goal Friday was set up beautifully by South African phenom
Jermaine Seoposenwe, who crossed it perfectly from left to right in front of the goal. The play was started as Seoposenwe gathered a forwarding pass from
Olivia Cole on the left flank, dribbled at the keeper tantalizingly for 15 yards and then sent the ball over to a wide open Kelley.
Kelley then fired the shot into the right corner of the net from 10 yards out to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage in the 14
th minute of action.
Despite Samford's great start, Cincinnati answered with a goal of its own in the 21
st minute and then received the golden goal from senior Emily Elsbrock at exactly the 3:16 mark in the first overtime period.
"It's always tough to lose in overtime, but I thought our players really battled hard," said Yelton. "We didn't handle the physical side of the match very well and I have to take my hat off to Cincinnati. They were very committed and they punished us for the mistakes that we made."
South Carolina (1-0), which is currently the 14th-ranked team in the nation, opened its 2014 slate with a dominant 2-0 win at East Carolina on Friday. In their shutout victory, the Gamecocks played stifling defense and limited the Pirates to just two shot attempts in 90 minutes of action.
Additionally, both of South Carolina's goals were scored by senior centerback Taylor Leach in the second half. Leach's game-winner occurred in the 50
th minute of play, before she then registered the first two-goal performance of her career with a second score at the 69-minute mark to give the Gamecocks their final 2-0 margin.
Against South Carolina on Sunday, Samford will attempt to extend its winning streak to five-consecutive matches versus Southeastern Conference opponents.
Dating back to a 3-1 victory over Kentucky on Sept. 9, 2012, the Bulldogs also rattled off consecutive home wins against Tennessee, 1-0, Auburn, 1-0, and Vanderbilt, 3-2, last season.
Samford and South Carolina have never met on the pitch, and Sunday's contest will mark the first matchup between the teams.
On Aug. 15, the Bulldogs opened competitive play in their 2014 campaign in impressive fashion as Samford jumped out to an early 3-0 lead against the Ole Miss Rebels and coasted to a final 3-2 decision in an exhibition contest held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
In their decisive win, the Bulldogs received goals from
Amanda Abbott,
Anna Allen and Kelley.
Following Sunday's showdown at No. 14-ranked South Carolina, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs travel to Jacksonville, Ala., for an in-state matchup with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
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