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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team will continue play in its early-season, three-match road swing Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs travel west 80 miles to face their former Ohio Valley Conference-rivals and in-state foes, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, in a testy matchup to be held at the JSU Soccer Field.
 
Samford (0-2) heads into Friday's intrastate contest with aspirations of earning its first victory of the young 2014 campaign.
 
On Aug. 22, the Bulldogs opened their season with a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss at home against the Cincinnati Bearcats. In the setback, Samford struck first with an early goal from sophomore standout Malcanisha Kelley, but then surrendered two late goals en route to the difficult season-opening loss.
 
Following their home match against Cincinnati, the Bulldogs' early-season schedule didn't get an easier Sunday as they traveled to Columbia, S.C., for a date with No. 14-ranked South Carolina.
 
Samford battled hard at the "Graveyard" and went into the half tied with the Gamecocks at 0-0. The Bulldogs' true freshman goalkeeper Anna Maddox turned in one of the best performances in school history with a career-high 10 saves, but South Carolina was able to grind home a pair of late goals for a 2-0 victory.
 
"South Carolina was honestly the best team that we've faced since we played at Florida State in the NCAA Tournament a few years ago," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "On that note, I thought we stood toe-to-toe with them in the first half and I was extremely pleased with how we competed. Later on in the match, I thought our schedule caught up with us and we started to run out of gas."
 
Samford's four-match winning streak against Southeastern Conference opponents came to an end Sunday.
 
Heading into the regionally-televised showdown, the Bulldogs held a four-game winning streak against SEC opponents. Dating back to a 3-1 victory over Kentucky on Sept. 9, 2012, Samford also registered consecutive home wins against Tennessee, 1-0, Auburn, 1-0, and Vanderbilt, 3-2, last season.
 
Jacksonville State (1-1) will make its 2014 home debut Friday after blanking Gardner-Webb, 1-0, on Sunday. In their road victory, the Gamecocks' junior Kelsey Bright provided the offense with a goal in the 56th minute of the contest. 
 
Down the stretch, Jacksonville State would weather a late rally by Gardner-Webb, and thanks to a clean sheet from sophomore goalkeeper Meara Johnson, the Gamecocks recorded a winning result. For her efforts, Johnson was named the OVC Goalkeeper of the Week.
 
On Friday, it would be safe to say that Samford will come out looking for a little bit of revenge against in-state rival Jacksonville State.
 
In the last meeting between the teams, held Sept. 16, 2012, at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium, the Bulldogs were stunned in a 2-1 loss by Jacksonville State. Samford outshot the Gamecocks by a hefty margin, 22-7, but came up short against its in-state rival.
 
The Bulldogs rattled off 13 shot attempts in the first half and scored their lone goal of the 2012 contest in the 39^th minute as Amanda Abbott knocked home a score.
 
On Abbott's goal, which occurred at exactly 38:17 in the opening period, Lindy Robichaux sent a perfectly-placed corner kick into the box from the left side. Robichaux's pass found Abbott right at her feet and she fired a laser towards the right half of the goal. Jacksonville State's goalkeeper Ali Koenig made an improbable diving save, but the ball rebounded directly to Abbott and she slammed home the goal to the left corner.
 
Samford seemed to be cruising into the half with a 1-0 lead when Jacksonville State quickly countered with a goal of its own at 42:42 to equalize the score at 1-1.
 
The Gamecocks' first goal was scored by Brianna Boutziouvis and was assisted by Kat Dowd. On the goal, Dowd sent a high looping cross from left to right to Boutziouvis just outside the box on the right flank. Boutziouvis moved in slightly towards the center of the field and one-timed a shot into the back of the net.
 
Jacksonville State's game-winning goal was scored with less than six minutes remaining in regulation. At exactly 84:23, the Gamecocks' Courtney Hurt gathered a long forwarding pass from Boutziouvis on the right sideline, moved directly ahead for a few yards and then pivoted past a Samford defender and placed a shot and hooked perfectly into the left corner of the goal.
 
Samford finished the 2012 contest with 12 corner kicks as opposed to one from Jacksonville State. Trine Taule led the Bulldogs with five shot attempts, while Brittany Hoffman added four and midfielder Michelle Moll rattled off three.
 
Samford will be making its first trip to Jacksonville since 2006. The Bulldogs own a 9-5-1 mark over Jacksonville State and have been victorious in six of the last seven matches between the programs.
 
Following Friday's in-state contest at Jacksonville State, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 5 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs conclude their arduous three-match road swing in Atlanta, Ga., for a non-conference matchup against the Georgia State Panthers to be held at the GSU Soccer Complex.
 
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