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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford University soccer team's string of difficult, top-notch opponents will continue Sunday at 2 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs play host to the Michigan State Spartans in an intriguing early-season contest to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
Admission is FREE for every home regular-season soccer match.
 
Already this year, Samford (0-3) has opened its 2017 campaign with matches against Memphis, 3-0, Alabama, 2-1, and No. 4-ranked Florida State, 4-2.
 
Nearly 15 minutes into the second half of action Thursday, Samford and Florida State were deadlocked at 1-1 in a well-played contest here in Birmingham. The Seminoles then erupted for a trio of late goals from Deyna Castellanos, Natalia Kuikka and Dallas Dorosy to earn the non-conference victory.
 
Michigan State (1-2) enters Sunday's match with aspirations of rebounding from back-to-back home losses to Washington, 4-0, and Butler, 1-0. On Friday, the Spartans played their first home night match in school history, but were shutout by the Bulldogs of Butler in front of a crowd of 1,757 fans.
 
Michigan State's lone victory of the season occurred Aug. 18, at home against Niagara, 2-0.
 
Last year, Samford faced the Spartans in a road exhibition test and the teams played to a 1-1 draw held in Lansing, Michigan, at DeMartin Stadium. The Bulldogs' Courtney Hendrickson tallied the game-tying goal in the 84^th minute to even the score at 1-1.
 
Following a penalty kick goal from Michigan State's Marisa Oleksiak in the 79^th minute, Samford trailed the Spartans, 1-0, and seemed doomed to suffer a tough road loss against its Big Ten counterpart. The Bulldogs, never disheartened, continued to push the limits offensively and exactly five minutes later equalized the match on Hendrickson's clutch goal.
 
Hendrickson, Samford's talented sophomore midfielder from Kennesaw, Georgia, sent a pretty one-timed shot past Michigan State's goalkeeper Olivia Argeros off a crossing pass from senior All-Southern Conference performer Malcanisha Kelley. Hendrickson's goal was scored from five yards out and proved to be the tying score of the game.
 
Following Sunday's home match against Michigan State, the Samford University soccer team will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m. (CT) as the Bulldogs close out their current three-match homestand with an in-state contest versus Alabama State to be held at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium.
 
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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