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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team will conclude play in its arduous, early-season, three-match road streak Sunday at 5 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs travel to Atlanta, Ga., for a key non-conference contest versus the Georgia State Panthers to be held at the GSU Soccer Complex.
 
Already this season, Samford (1-2) has played matches against No. 14 South Carolina, Cincinnati and Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs opened their 2014 campaign at home versus Cincinnati, but then also played tough road matches at South Carolina and Jacksonville State.
 
Samford lost to Cincinnati, 2-1 OT, and South Carolina, 2-0, in heartbreaking fashion this season, but then bounced back with a pivotal 3-2 road victory at Jacksonville State on Friday.
 
Against the Gamecocks, the Bulldogs picked up their first victory of the young 2014 season as they jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and then hung on for a 3-2 road triumph in a key intrastate contest held at the JSU Soccer Field.
 
Samford's talented true freshman goalkeeper Anna Maddox faced 16 shot attempts from the Gamecocks on Friday and turned in a valiant effort en route to her first collegiate win.
 
In the 26^th minute, Samford jumped out to a 1-0 lead as sophomore Emily Jones scored her first career goal as a Bulldog. A transfer from the University of Tampa this season, Jones has added an offensive spark for the team and gave Samford its early advantage with an unassisted goal at exactly 25:43.
 
Jones' score occurred on a blazing shot from 20 yards out that deflected off Jacksonville State goalkeeper Meara Johnson's hands and into the back of the net.
 
Less than seven minutes later, the Bulldogs extended their lead to 2-0 with a goal from sophomore Heather Lacy. The score was Lacy's first at Samford since she transferred to the Valley from Ole Miss this summer.
 
Lacy's goal was set up by sophomore Taylor Borman who sent a direct kick perfectly in the box. On the play, Lacy skied past a pair of Gamecock defenders and headed the ball neatly into the back of the net. Borman's assist was her first of the 2014 campaign.
 
All three of Samford's goals Friday were scored by sophomore transfers.
 
The Bulldogs' third, and ultimately its most important goal, was added by South African standout Jermaine Seoposenwe. In the 35^th minute of action, Seoposenwe tallied the decisive goal to give Samford a lopsided 3-0 advantage in the match, but her goal would eventually prove to be the game-winner as Jacksonville State tacked on two late second-half scores.
 
Seoposenwe's shot occurred directly from the top of the box as she rifled home a crossing pass from senior forward Amanda Abbott past the Gamecocks' diving goalkeeper Johnson. The score was her first of the 2014 campaign.
 
Georgia State (0-2-1) heads into Sunday's contest with aspirations of picking up its first victory of the 2014 campaign.
 
The Panthers opened the season with a loss at Furman on a penalty kick in overtime. Both teams created quality scoring chances but neither could find the back of the net in regulation. In the ninth minute of overtime, Furman was awarded a penalty kick for an apparent handball in the box and Stephanie DeVita converted from the spot to clinch the win.
 
Three days later on Monday, Aug. 25, Georgia State made the short trip up I-75 to face in-state rival Kennesaw State. Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Ashley Nagy opened the scoring with a chip in the 39th minute.
 
The Panthers held the lead until the 71st minute when the Owls scored off a rebounded shot attempt. Nagy then came across two scoring chances late in the second half to clinch the win, but was unable to convert.  Neither team was able to score in the 20 minutes of extra time as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
 
On Friday, two goals in four minutes proved to be the difference as Georgia State was downed by Murray State, 2-1. The Panthers grabbed an early lead in the fourth minute on a goal by Margaret Bruemmer but a pair of Racer goals after the break spelled defeat. 
 
Samford owns an undefeated 6-0-1 all-time record against Georgia State. Last season, the teams met on the pitch in Birmingham as the Bulldogs rallied for a key 4-2 non-conference victory.
 
In last year's win, Samford allowed an early goal to Nagy, but the Bulldogs then exploded for three scores in exactly three minutes and 32 seconds en route to the win held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
In the final 2:58 of the first half, as well as the first 34 seconds of the second half, Samford scored an unprecedented three goals in three minutes and 32 seconds to give the Bulldogs a lightning-quick 4-2 lead. The total of 3:32 marked the shortest time in Samford history that three goals were scored.
 
Following Sunday's road contest at Georgia State, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Belmont Bruins to the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium for a key, early-season matchup.
 
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