Live StatsBIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team will begin play in a two-match, non-conference homestand Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs square off against the Belmont Bruins in their fourth-annual "Kickin' It For Kids With Cancer" game to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Bulldogs are slated to play host to the No. 3-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in what is widely considered to be the biggest home match in school history.
Last week,
Samford (2-2-0) closed out its weekend road stretch with a perfect 2-0 record Sunday as the Bulldogs earned a 2-1 victory against Georgia State. In the win, Samford's
Heather Lacy scored both of the team's goals en route to the Bulldogs' critical road contest held at the GSU Soccer Complex.
Samford, which also defeated Jacksonville State on the road Friday, 3-2, improved its record when playing away from home to 2-1 this season. The Bulldogs' lone loss on the road in 2014 occurred Aug. 24 against No. 14-ranked South Carolina, 2-0.
Both of Samford's goals were scored Sunday by Lacy and were assisted by fellow-sophomore
Taylor Borman. Lacy, the Bulldogs' talented transfer from Ole Miss, scored her first goal of the match in the 14
th minute and then notched the game-winner at exactly 33:54.
On the decisive goal, Borman sent a pass high into the box that was deflected by a pair of Panther defenders. Lacy then pounced on the loose-ball opportunity and fired a one-timer into the bottom left corner of the net for the goal.
Samford true freshman,
Anna Maddox, heads into Friday's contest as the team's leading goalkeeper. The Bulldogs' native of Warner Robins, Ga., has stared all four matches this season and has logged over 363 minutes in goal with 20 saves and a 1.73 goals-against average.
Belmont (2-0-1) enters Friday's showdown with an undefeated record this season. The Bruins opened the year with victories against Valparaiso and Middle Tennessee, and then finished in a 1-1 draw at home against Indiana State last week.
Belmont continues to be led in scoring this season by freshman Belicia Mendiola, who tallied three goals and six points on the opening weekend. Senior Taylor Smith and freshman Tara Austin have notched the team's two assists this season.
Additionally, junior Lindsey Espe has handled all of the action between the posts for the Bruins, recording 11 saves. She also boasts a stellar goals-against average of 0.58 with over 307 minutes logged.
Samford leads the all-time series against Belmont with a lopsided 9-1 record, including a 2-0 victory over the Bruins at home in Birmingham during the 2011 season, which proved to be the last meeting between the programs.
Friday's match will mark the fourth time that Samford has hosted a "Kickin' It For Kids With Cancer" event. Last year, more than $3,000 was raised for the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Foundation, which is headed by President Amy Jo Osborn, a Samford alumnus.
The "Kickin' It" game will coincide with September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Samford will be selling special "Kickin' It" shirts in weeks leading up to the game. Shirts can also be purchased online at www.poshbirmingham.com.
In addition, local businesses will participate in the "Hope Floats" pin-up campaign to raise funds and awareness for the Foundation. The campaign is a vehicle for awareness in the participating businesses, aimed at engaging patrons in the effort to help families affected by pediatric cancer and provide an opportunity to make a donation.
One of Birmingham's local restaurant partners is also chipping in with donations for the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer. The Sprout & Pour Juicery is going to be supporting "Kickin' It For Kids" by donating $1 from every "Sunrise" juice they sell this month.
Following Friday's "Kickin' It For Kids With Cancer" game against Belmont, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 1 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs welcome the No. 3-ranked Virginia Cavaliers to the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium for a huge early-season, non-conference showdown.
The No. 3 Cavaliers will mark the highest-ranked team to square off against Samford at home in Birmingham. Earlier this year, the Bulldogs came up just short in a hard-fought 2-0 road loss against South Carolina.
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