ATHENS, Ga. – The Samford University soccer team saw its 2022 season come to an end with a 2-0 loss at the University of Georgia Friday evening at Turner Soccer Complex.
 
Samford fell behind by two goals in the first half but battled through an even second half. Samford head coach Todd Yelton said he was proud of the way his team fought in the second half of the contest.
 
"I think our nerves got to us a little bit in the first half," Yelton said. "At halftime I challenged them and said I don't care what the score ends up, just don't let fear control us and let's go do the best we can, fight hard. I couldn't ask for a better effort. I thoroughly enjoyed watching that. We couldn't push one over the line, but it was pretty good soccer for 45 minutes from us."
 
With the loss, Samford's season ends with a record of 11-4-7. The Bulldogs were 5-1-3 in SoCon play, winning a share of a ninth-straight SoCon regular season title. Georgia improves to 13-5-3, and the home Bulldogs will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they will face the winner of the game between North Carolina and Old Dominion, which will be played Saturday.
 
This marked Samford's seventh trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs previously earned bids in 2005, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2019 and 2021.
 
"We were down four starters," Yelton said. "Most teams, at a mid-major level, lose four starters and that game looks a lot different. It's very difficult for me to express how proud I am of this group. They had every opportunity to lay down at 2-0 and missing the kids we're missing, and they didn't. And I think that is kind of representative of them this year. They're just wonderful humans first and foremost and lucky for me they can play a bit of soccer too."
 
In the loss, Whitaker Buchanan led Samford with three shots. Mary Raymond had two shots as well for Samford. Goalkeeper Emma Donley, who earned SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors last week, saved two shots, allowing two goals in the contest.
 
For Georgia, Abby Boyan led the way with three shots. Dani Marguia had two shots, scoring one goal. Jessie Dunn took one shot and scored the team's second goal. Georgia goalkeeper Jordan Brown saved two shots in earning the shutout.
 
In the 10^th minute of the match, Georgia jumped on top, 1-0 with a goal by Marguia off an assist from Madison Haugen. Georgia's Dunn gave the home Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with a goal in the 38^th minute of the contest.


 
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