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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team will continue play in its 2015 Southern Conference schedule Sunday at 2 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs welcome the Wofford Terriers to the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium for an early league contest.
 
Samford (6-4-0, 1-0-0 SoCon) heads into the matchup riding the positive momentum of a demonstrative 2-0 conference-opening win over arch-rival Furman on Friday. In the victory, the Bulldogs' senior Hallie Georgi and junior Taylor Borman both scored goals, and sophomore Anna Maddox registered her first complete-game shutout of the season.
 
Samford has played eight of its first nine matches at home in 2015 and boasts a 5-3 record when competing at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. The Bulldogs' only losses at home this season have come versus No. 15 Duke, 2-1 (2OT), Georgia, 1-0, and South Alabama, 3-2. Samford's home wins have been against Wake Forest, 2-1, Memphis, 5-1, Boise State, 2-0, Furman, 2-0, and Coastal Carolina, 2-1.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Wofford (1-3-3, 0-0-1 SoCon) enters Sunday's contest with hopes of ending a two-match winless streak. After defeating Francis Marion, 1-0, on Sept. 15, the Terriers have fallen short at Davidson, 2-1 (2OT), and played to a SoCon-opening 2-2 draw at Chattanooga on Friday.
 
Against the Mocs in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Wofford midfielder Mary Beth Bleekrode thrillingly tied the match at 2-2 with six minutes left in regulation. She deflected a pass from fellow midfielder Emily Gaid past goalkeeper Katie Emig and into the net, sending the game to overtime.
 
In the overtime periods, both teams had chances with clear shots to win the match but the defenses held strong.
 
Wofford's best chance to win came with three minutes left in double overtime. Gaid streaked down the middle of the field and fired a left-footed shot that a diving Emig got her glove on to prevent the winning goal. The resulting corner kick did not produce a shot for Wofford.
 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES BETWEEN THE TEAMS
The Bulldogs have never been defeated by Wofford, but the teams have played to a draw four times in the all-time series, including back-to-back matches in 2008 and 2009. Since then, Samford has rattled off five straight victories in the rivalry. The Bulldogs own a 6-0-4 record in the overall series and a 3-0-1 mark when playing at home in Birmingham.
 
LAST SEASON'S MEETING
In 2014, the Bulldogs received goals from Amanda Abbott in the 50^th minute and Malcanisha Kelley in the 82^nd. The opening half featured six shots from Wofford and five from the Bulldogs. The first 45 minutes of play turned out to be a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to find the back of the net.

Early in the second half, Samford seemingly stepped up its offensive pressure and quickly lit up the scoreboard with Abbott's goal in the 50^th minute. On the scoring play, Brittany Hoffman served a pass deep into the box and Abbott skied over a pair of Terrier defenders and headed a shot past Wofford goalkeeper Kara Boggs.
 
Abbott's high-flying goal gave the Bulldogs a key 1-0 lead at exactly 49:25.
 
With only 8:06 remaining in the contest, Samford's Kelley scored to give the Bulldogs some late breathing room as she fired home a goal in the 82^nd minute of action. Kelley's unassisted score occurred as she beat a Wofford defender in a footrace and then rifled a shot perfectly in the bottom left corner of the net.
 
Samford's Maddox, who was the reigning SoCon Player of the Week at the time, recorded her fourth shutout of the 2014 season. Maddox, the Bulldogs' talented 6-foot native of Warner Robins, Georgia, tallied three huge saves last year against the Terriers.
 
Samford outshot Wofford by a total of 19-8, including a dominant 14-2 advantage in the second half of play.
 
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT?
Following Sunday's home matchup with Wofford, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 3 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs begin a two-match conference road swing versus The Citadel Bulldogs to be held in Charleston, South Carolina.
 
For quick score updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @SamfordSoccer and @Samford_Sports on Twitter.

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