BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- Today we continue the Samford Sports Wrap Up, Presented by Alabama Power, a series highlighting Samford's coaches and staff throughout the academic year. Today's edition will feature head soccer coach Todd Yelton.
 
The soccer team is off to a perfect 6-0 start to SoCon play, capped by an impressive 3-1 win over Wofford and a 4-0 win over Furman last weekend. Yelton talked about the way his team played last weekend.
 
"That was a little unexpected probably," Yelton said. "The Wofford-Furman weekend is a tough weekend. I know some of the results have gone against Wofford, but they've been super tight matches where they've lost by a goal, and I thought the Friday night game, nothing about that was easy. They have some good pieces for sure. And then the Furman game, I can't remember the last time that wasn't a draw or a one-goal game. So, to put four past them, hopefully it gives us momentum going into the last three games. That attacking group that they have is a really good group, so for us to keep them off the board and pitch a shutout was really a great day."
 
The Bulldogs are not only making waves in the Southern Conference, but the team has consistently been ranked in the top 10 of the United Soccer Coaches Southeast Region Poll this season. Eight of the nine other teams in the top 10 of this week's poll play in the SEC. Yelton talked about his team being in that impressive company.
 
"I grew up in the south, and the measuring stick around here is the SEC," Yelton said. "One of the reasons kids come here is we play so many Power 5's. When I first came here and I did that, it was more for the experience of having a chance to play on that stage and play those teams. It's obviously changed because we've had a lot of success against Power 5 teams. It's just maybe a reward of that. Representing the non-Power 5's is really a cool thing, and we'll just keep trying to do our best and winning games and try to move up as we can. Our focus is Friday night against a Western Carolina team and all that other stuff will take care of itself."
 
This weekend, Samford will play at Western Carolina Friday at 6 p.m. (CT), and at ETSU Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT). The Bulldogs have a chance to clinch an eighth-straight SoCon regular season title this weekend. Additionally, Yelton grew up in the Johnson City area, and his brother and former long-time associate head coach, Jay Yelton is the head coach of the Bucs, while his brother Matt serves as an assistant coach for ETSU. Yelton also said Western Carolina head coach Chad Miller is a close friend, so this is both a special and a tough weekend for him.
 
"Chad and I are tight," Yelton said. "He's a good friend and I respect what he's doing there. I think he'll have something to say about whether we clinch or don't clinch. What I do know about them is they always show up and play really, really hard. And then you have Round 2 of the Yeltons. It's not my favorite game of the year if I'm honest. What Jay and Matt are doing there is incredibly impressive. I think they're probably the most improved team in the league by miles. The big debate is, where do the preacher and Mrs. Pat, my mom and dad, sit during the game? I'm pretty sure they'll be cheering for their baby boy, but we'll see."
 
Yelton talked a little about the close bond he and his brothers share.
 
"I am blessed beyond measure, my brothers are my best friends," Yelton said. "Obviously, I want them to win every game but one, and I think they think that about me. My parents set just such a great example and created such a great family environment that our relationship is way, way bigger than this game. But for the 90 minutes, or it could be 110 minutes, it's not my favorite time of year."
 
The team's final regular season home game on Oct. 24 against Chattanooga will be the annual Shauna's House game, raising money to build houses for orphans in Thailand.
 
"When we started this thing, I was like, God if you'll just let us raise a couple thousand dollars, I would be thankful," Yelton said. "I think over the life of this, we've raised somewhere between 70 and 80 thousand dollars. My dad used say, where you spend your time and spend your money is what matters to you. This university has definitely demonstrated how much they care about my family, both in time and money. It's just an amazing night and it's also a really great chance to help out one of our former players who is now a missionary in Thailand. They have the same issues we had in Ukraine. It's just another chance for us to prove how much we love people, and hopefully demonstrate what the Gospel looks like."
 
For links to follow the games this weekend, click on the following link: SOCCER SCHEDULE PAGE.
 
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