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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- In one of the most highly-anticipated, regular-season home matchups in school history, the undefeated Samford University soccer team will play host to the undefeated Furman Paladins in a Southern Conference showdown Sunday that will decide the 2017 regular-season championship at 1 p.m. (CT) in a contest to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. Admission is FREE.
 
Samford (12-5-1, 8-0 SoCon) heads into Sunday's epic matchup riding the positive momentum of a school-record, 11-match winning streak. On Friday, the Bulldogs used key first-half goals from junior Ella Baggett and true freshman Caroline Orman to defeat Wofford, 2-0, en route to their 18^th straight victory against a conference opponent.
 
Samford, which has won three straight SoCon regular-season titles, has not been defeated by a SoCon rival since Sept. 25, 2016, when they were topped on the road at Furman, 3-2.
 
The Bulldogs also upped their undefeated streak to 12 straight outings Friday. Since playing to a 1-1 home draw with Georgia on Sept. 8, Samford has rattled off consecutive victories against Western Kentucky, 1-0, UC Davis, 1-0, Saint Mary's (CA), 1-0, Western Carolina, 1-0, ETSU, 2-0, Chattanooga, 3-1, UNCG, 2-0, VMI, 4-0, Mercer, 3-1, The Citadel, 2-1, and Wofford, 2-0.
 
Immediately before Friday's match, Samford honored its 2017 senior class with a special Senior Night Presentation. The Bulldogs honored the following seniors:  Abriella Argueta, Anna Maddox, Virginia McNeill, Kaitlyn Orman and Jermaine Seoposenwe.
 
Samford's senior class boasts an impressive 55-22-4 overall record, as well as a brilliant 31-4 mark in SoCon play. The Bulldogs' current senior class owns the highest winning percentage of any class in school history.
 
On Friday, Samford wore special light blue uniforms in honor of Shauna's House, which is an endearing charity honoring Samford head coach Todd Yelton's late wife, Shauna, who lost her battle with cancer in November of 2015.
 
For three years, Shauna fought against cervical cancer until she passed away almost two years ago in November 2015. She was just 45 and left behind a husband and two teenage children, daughter MacKenzie and son Colin, as well as a lasting impact with her Christian faith and servant's heart.
 
Friends and family honored Shauna through one of her favorite causes, the orphans of Ukraine, a country where an estimated 70 and 80 percent of young adults suffer through issues with crime, prostitution, suicide or drug overdose when they age out of orphanages. Funds are being raised for Shauna's House in Ukraine, a transition home for young girls.
 
Those wanting to donate to the cause online can do so through Lifesong for Orphans, or by mailing a check to the Samford Athletic Department with the subject "Shauna's House".
 
Donate to Shauna's House at https://mystory.lifesongfororphans.org/stories/shaunashouse/.
 
Furman (12-2-1, 8-0 SoCon) enters Sunday's showdown boasting a 10-match winning streak. On Friday, the Paladins received a golden goal from senior Molly Dwyer to register a 1-0 overtime road victory at Chattanooga. Dwyer's team-leading ninth goal of the season occurred in the 96^th minute of action.
 
Furman's victory marked its 10th straight triumph, just one short of the school record and gave Head Coach Andrew Burr's squad 12 wins for the seventh consecutive season.
 
The Paladins' only losses this year have come against Presbyterian, 2-0, and at home against UAB, 3-2, in a double-overtime thriller. Since then, Furman has rattled off 10 straight victories.
 
Samford owns a 7-4-1 record in the 12 previous meetings between the schools, including a 2-1 victory over the Paladins in the semifinals of last season's SoCon Women's Soccer Championship held in Johnson City, Tennessee.
 
The Bulldogs have locked up a top two seed for the 2017 SoCon Women's Soccer Championship and will host a quarterfinal round match at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m. (CT) on Oct. 28, against an opponent to be determined. The semifinals and finals of the SoCon Tournament will be held here in Birmingham on Nov. 3-5.
 
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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