Box Score
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team received first-half goals from senior strikers Malcanisha Kelley and Jermaine Seoposenwe, as well as a stifling defensive performance from its back line in a quality 2-0 home victory against the Troy Trojans in a key in-state showdown held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
"I thought we played well tonight, especially after playing a very tough road match Friday night and not getting back into town until 2:15 in the morning on Saturday," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Troy is a very good team that makes it extremely hard to score. I think what (Head Coach) Jason (Hamilton) has done with that program has been very impressive. I'm not sure that we played our best soccer tonight, but we found a way to get it done."
 
With the win, Samford (1-0-1) remained undefeated on the season and improved to 9-1 all-time against Troy (1-1). On Friday, the Bulldogs opened their 2016 campaign with a 0-0 road draw at No. 26-ranked South Alabama. Junior goalkeeper Katie Peters has already tallied a pair of shutouts this season, the ninth and 10^th of her career.
 
Samford outshot the Trojans, 15-7, with seven of its attempts being on-goal. The Bulldogs' Korrie Sauder, a talented sophomore transfer from Miami (Ohio), paced the squad with four shot attempts. Samford also led in corner kicks, 4-3.
 
Just 10 minutes into the contest, the Bulldogs' Kelley quickly shifted the momentum of the match as she scored one of the prettiest goals in Samford history.
 
After gathering a forwarding pass from Courtney Hendrickson, Kelley proved to be the only Bulldog on the attacking side of midfield. She was surrounded by four Troy defenders, but singlehandedly weaved her way down the field and through the Trojans' back line.
 
Kelley, Samford's all-time leading goal-scorer with 29, outran the final defender and juked her way past the goalkeeper for a brilliant shot from 10 yards out.
 
The score gave the Bulldogs a momentous 1-0 lead early in the match.
 
"Troy really came out flying in the match and really put us on our back foot," Yelton said. "Then, Mac (Malcanisha) just got ahold of one there at midfield and beat four players down the field for the goal. To be honest with you, that was a very impressive goal."
 
Following Kelley's goal, Samford seemed to garner a predominant portion of the momentum and later put the contest away with Seoposenwe's score in the 39^th minute.
 
Seoposenwe, who recently returned to Birmingham from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she competed for her home country of South Africa in the 2016 Olympic Games, only played 21 minutes Sunday as the Bulldog coaches continue to ease her back into more significant game action.
 
Just over six minutes after entering the contest, Seoposenwe collected a nice forwarding pass from sophomore forward Ella Baggett and then streaked past a pair of Troy defenders. Once she reached the penalty box, she found herself one-v-one with the goalkeeper and literally faked left, jumped right and eased her way past the fallen Trojans for a relaxed right-footed shot into the empty net.
 
Seoposenwe's goal proved to be the 11^th of her Samford career and gave the Bulldogs a decisive 2-0 lead.
 
"Jermaine only played about 20 minutes tonight and she was able to get a goal," said Yelton. "We're trying to bring her back into the swing of things and to also give her some rest, because she's been going at it hard for the last month or so with the Olympic training."
 
Troy concluded Sunday's contest with seven shot attempts from seven different players. The Trojans' lone shot on goal came off the foot of Devin Gaskill, who forced a team save early in the second half.
 
"We have such a great defensive group," Yelton said. "It doesn't matter if we play with three or with four, they have just been so excellent and that core has all played together for a long time. They take great pride in what they do and they are just scrappers and fighters. I also think Katie (Peters) if off to a great start this season. She's just been outstanding in goal for us."
 
The Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 6 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs begin a two-match stretch against Southeastern Conference opponents as they travel to face Georgia on the road in Athens, Georgia. Friday's matchup will be held at UGA's Turner Soccer Complex.
 
On Aug. 28, Samford will return home to Birmingham to square off against the No. 14-ranked Auburn Tigers at 6 p.m., at the Samford Track and Soccer Complex.
 
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Box Score
Samford Stats