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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team will face its third top-20 ranked opponent in six matches Friday as the Bulldogs travel south to Auburn, Ala., for a key non-conference contest against the 18^th-ranked Auburn Tigers to be held at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
 
Already this season, Samford (3-3) has squared off against top-notch opponents No. 3 Virginia, No. 14 South Carolina and Cincinnati. The Bulldogs have compiled a 2-1 record on the road this year with critical victories at Jacksonville State, 3-2, and Georgia State, 2-1.
 
Samford's third win of the young 2014 campaign occurred at home Friday as the Bulldogs blanked the Belmont Bruins, 2-0. In the decisive triumph, Samford true freshman goalkeeper Anna Maddox picked up the first shutout of her bright up-and-coming career.
 
The Bulldogs played host to their highest-ranked opponent in school history Sunday as they dropped a hard-fought 3-1 decision to the No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers in front of a raucous crowd at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
Samford fell behind 2-0 in the first half of play, but received a pivotal, momentum-changing goal from sophomore Malcanisha Kelley early in the second half. Kelley's game-changing score proved to be her second of the season and trimmed undefeated Virginia's advantage to 2-1.
 
The goal also proved to be the only score that the Cavaliers allowed in 450 minutes of play this season.
 
On Kelley's goal, the Bulldogs' explosive forward from Childersburg, gathered a perfectly-placed forwarding pass from Amanda Abbott on the right flank. She then took a couple of dribbles, forced Virginia's goalkeeper Jessie Ferrari to challenge before chipping a brilliant 25-foot floater neatly into the back of the net.
 
Kelley's goal gave Samford new life early in the second of play. The Bulldogs outnumbered Virginia in corner kicks, 2-1, and rattled off two shot attempts in the final half of action.
 
The Cavaliers' first-half goals were scored by junior Brittany Ratcliffe and senior Morgan Brian. Ratcliffe's goal was setup by Brian and proved to be her fourth of the young 2014 campaign. Virginia's second score was tallied by Brian in the 41^st minute of play.
 
Midway through the second half of play, the Cavaliers' Veronica Latsko scored Virginia's third-and-final score of the afternoon following a crossing pass from Danielle Colaprico. The goal was Latsko's second of the season.
 
Down the stretch, in the final 27 minutes of play, neither team scored as the contest finished 3-1.
 
"I think we grew up a bit against Virginia and hopefully we can gain some confidence from this and be ready for another tough match Friday night at Auburn," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton.
 
Auburn (5-1) heads into Friday's contest with a full head of steam and is in the midst of a five-match winning streak. The Tigers opened their 2014 campaign with a heartbreaking 2-1 setback at Clemson on Aug. 22, but have since breezed past Furman, 2-1, UC Irvine, 3-0, Georgia Southern, 3-0, Memphis, 3-0, and Minnesota, 3-1.
 
Auburn is undefeated when playing at home this season. Samford has never trumped the Tigers when playing on the road at the Auburn Soccer Complex.
 
Auburn's No. 18 national ranking proves to be its first since the 2012 season when the Tigers reached as high as No. 21 in late August. The team's No. 9 ranking in 2004 still holds the top spot in Auburn's all-time ranking history.
 
Last season, Samford and Auburn squared off at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium as the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory. In the triumph, Samford defeated its second straight Southeastern Conference opponent after earlier defeating Tennessee by a similar 1-0 decision.
 
The Bulldogs' Kelley scored the game-winning goal in the 52^nd minute of play as Samford defeated Auburn for the first time in school history. Kelley also scored the game-winning goal in their triumph over Tennessee.
 
With last season's victory, Samford snapped a three-match losing streak against Auburn and knocked off its sixth SEC opponent in school history. The Bulldogs' list of conquests also includes Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.
 
Following Friday's contest at No. 18-ranked Auburn, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 6 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs continue play in their three-match non-conference road trip against the Lipscomb Bison to be held at the Lipscomb Soccer Complex in Nashville, Tenn.
 
For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @Samford_Sports on Twitter.

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