BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Samford soccer team enters the 2018 season having won four-straight Southern Conference regular-season titles. If the Bulldogs are going to win a fifth-straight championship, however, they must replace 52 percent of the team's points and 54 percent of its goals from last season.
 
"If you look over the last two years, with the number of kids that we've graduated who have been either first or second team All-Conference, I think you realize the talent that has left the program," Samford head coach Todd Yelton said. "But I couldn't be happier with this group. I think they have definitely taken on the challenge of wanting to see the team continue to progress, and for us to continue to win championships."


 
The Bulldogs are coming off a productive spring season. Yelton said having the benefit of coming off a good spring will help in developing the young team as it heads into the regular season.
 
"We're fortunate in that we have the benefit of a spring season," Yelton said. "I think we got a lot of the hard stuff done in the spring, and I think we had kids really grow a great deal. My biggest concern was when we started fall, would we start from ground zero or would we continue to progress. The great thing about this team is they have continued to progress.
 
"The biggest thing that I come away with so far, is that some of the kids who really didn't log a lot of minutes last year and really needed to grow over the summer, have absolutely done that," Yelton said. "And I think that's the thing that is going to make a difference for us. That's the thing that at least puts us in the conversation for being able to win five in a row."
 
Samford will once again play an extremely challenging schedule this fall. The team's non-conference schedule includes Auburn, Baylor, Rice, Memphis, UAB and LSU, among others. Those contests will join the always-tough Southern Conference slate.
 
"Kids come here with the expectations of playing those types of opponents," Yelton said. "I think what playing a very, very difficult non-conference schedule does for you is it really tests you.  You don't really know who you are until you have been tested.  My dad uses an analogy when he preaches, he says, 'what is going to come out of an orange when you squeeze it?' Then he would say, 'whatever is inside of it.' So, we will find out what's inside of us during with this schedule. 
 
"What has been great about it in my mind is the kids have been very resilient," Yelton said. "They just embrace the demanding non-conference schedule and they look forward to it, and that is what they expect. So, when you get into the tight times of conference play, it's not anything they haven't seen before. And quite honestly, the conference is incredibly demanding for us, because if you win it four-straight years, I can promise you people have that game circled on their calendar. The coaches in this league are really good coaches and it's not their first rodeo, so it's a challenging task in front of us."
 
Samford will open the season on Thursday, Aug. 16, when the Bulldogs host Auburn at 7 p.m. at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium. The team played one exhibition contest, defeating Murray State, 2-1 on the road Aug. 10. Caroline Orman and Korrie Sauder contributed a goal each to the win.
 
"It was a great first outing," Yelton said. "I'm really proud of our kids. "Murray is a quality opponent that was picked to win their league. We'll rest up and get ready for Auburn Thursday."
 
A LOOK AT THE BULLDOGS BY POSITION
 
FORWARD
Samford must replace its top two scorers from last season in Jermaine Seoposenwe (35 pts, 13 goals) and Abriella Argueta (12 pts, 5 goals). However, the team has some experienced players returning, as well as some talented younger players.
 
"That's probably where we got hit the hardest in graduation," Yelton said. "You don't have to look any further than a stat sheet from last year to see that. I think this year will probably be much more by committee. I have great confidence in our kids, they have worked extremely hard."
 
Korrie Sauder (12 pts, 4 goals), Erin Bonner (8 pts, 4 goals), Caroline Orman (5 pts, 2 goals) and Keyli Borman will be expected to split the load taken last year by Seoposenwe and Argueta.
 
"I think Alex, Keyli, Erin, Caroline and Korrie all have the ability to score for us," Yelton said. "We're hoping each of those kids can get four or five (goals), and that would actually put us past what those two got us last year. I think we still have a great deal of talent in that area."
 
MIDFIELDERS
At midfielder, Samford has to fill the gaps left by Virginia McNeill and Kaitlyn Orman, who served as the team's captain last season. The position, however, has a tremendous amount of depth heading into the 2018 season.
 
Leigh Haynes, Emma, Thompson, Alyssa Frazier, Caroline and Lexi Orman, Ella Baggett, Nyalyn Moore, Bailey Arnott, Erin Patterson and preseason All-SoCon selection Allie Lourie, who was the SoCon's Defensive Player of the Year last season, but has moved to midfielder, will lead the way at midfielder. Reserve Courtney Hendrickson, who is coming back from surgery and will be eased back into playing, is expected to be 100 percent by the time conference play begins. Grace Packer, who has the ability to score, also returns. Freshman Erin Patterson will also see time at midfielder this fall.
 
"We have quite a bit of depth in midfield," Yelton said. "I think that is a good group, and if you're looking at it from a central standpoint and also in the wide areas we have the ability to rotate players throughout the game."
 
DEFENDER
Yelton described the defenders as one of the strengths of his team this season. Grace Sommi, Taylore Miller and preseason All-SoCon selection Taylor Meneide comprise this experienced group. Lourie could also see some time at defender this season, though she will mainly play in the midfield this fall.
 
"Traditionally, we haven't given up a lot of goals here," Yelton said. "Those kids are young, but they logged a tremendous amount of minutes last year, and I feel this group has the ability to carry us early on. Certainly they are going to be tested early by the likes of Auburn and Baylor.
 
GOALKEEPER
Anna Maddox, who was a tremendous asset in goal last season, must be replaced this season. Stephanie Westaway and Sarah Thorne have had productive preseasons so far. Lauren Delp will also compete for time, once she returns from injury.
 
"There is certainly great competition, but there is also great camaraderie between the group," Yelton said of the goalkeepers. "Traditionally goalkeeping has been a strength of our teams.  As the group continues to grow and improve it will eventually be a strength for this team."