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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- The Samford University soccer team will begin play in its 2017 campaign Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs square off against the Memphis Tigers in a key season-opening matchup to be held at the Mike A. Rose Soccer Complex.
 
Samford and Memphis both qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2016.
 
The Bulldogs finished last season with a 15-4-2 overall record, as well as an 8-1 mark in Southern Conference play. Samford won the SoCon Tournament and squared off against No. 10-ranked Florida State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
 
Memphis rolled to a 14-5-1 record last year and nearly toppled No. 17-ranked Arkansas in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks scored a goal just before the end of regulation to send the match into overtime and then tallied the game-winning score two minutes into extra time.
 
Memphis, which is currently receiving votes in the Top Drawer Soccer top-25 poll, earned an 8-1 record in American Athletic Conference play last season and was recently predicted to win the league again in 2017.
 
Last week, Samford was picked to win the SoCon's regular-season title for a fourth straight year in preseason voting by the SoCon's 10 head coaches. The coaches also selected an 11-member preseason all-conference team and the Bulldogs' Anna Maddox, Kaitlyn Orman and Jermaine Seoposenwe highlighted the list.
 
Samford collected eight first-place votes and 81 points to distance itself from the rest of the field. Furman received one first-place vote and ETSU tied for second, totaling 67 points apiece. UNCG is slated to finish fourth in the poll with 56 points while Mercer came in fifth with 50 points. Chattanooga (40), Western Carolina (34), VMI (22), The Citadel (19) and Wofford (14), rounded out the poll.
 
On Saturday, the Bulldogs squared off against No. 10-ranked Auburn on the road and dropped a 2-0 decision to the Tigers.
 
Both of Auburn's goals were scored by Kristen Dodson in the first half. She found the back of the net in both the seventh and 27^th minutes of action.
 
Samford equaled the Tigers in shot attempts Friday, 10-10, and outshot Auburn in the second half of action, 7-4. The Bulldogs' Grace Packer paced the team with three shot attempts, while true freshman Caroline Orman notched a pair of shots on goal.
 
Samford competed in its lone exhibition match of the 2017 preseason Saturday, while Auburn played in its second. On Thursday, the top-10 ranked Tigers earned a 3-2 road victory at Georgia in exhibition play. Auburn will open its 2017 regular-season campaign Friday at home against South Alabama.
 
The Bulldogs own a 4-3 all-time advantage against Memphis, including a 5-1 decision held Aug. 28, 2015, at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. In the victory, Seoposenwe and Malcanisha Kelley accounted for three goals and six assists. Seoposenwe, Bulldogs' senior native of Cape Town, South Africa, handed out a school-record four assists in the most recent matchup against Memphis.
 
Following Friday's season-opening contest at Memphis, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Sunday at 7 p.m. (CDT) as the Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for a big-time nonconference showdown with the Crimson Tide to be held at the Alabama Soccer Complex.
 
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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