BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford Athletics is continuing the Student-Athlete Spotlight series, presented by Coca-Cola, which, this week, will highlight Ella Simpson, a junior defender on the Samford soccer team.
 
Simpson is a native of Orlando, Florida. She talked about the recruiting process and what brought her to Samford.
 
"I first heard about Samford around May of my sophomore year," Simpson said. "I was pretty heavily recruited by Auburn and UCF in the beginning of my sophomore year and then I got injured pretty bad and was in seven to eight months of rehab for my ankle. Then my dad actually knew the old Samford basketball coach and I think he kind of connected my name to Coach (Todd) Yelton, let him know who I was.
 
"And then Coach came and watched me play near the end of May one time and then the rules got changed and we weren't allowed to talk to college coaches until September 1 of my junior year," Simpson said. "As soon as that date rolled around Coach Yelton reached back out to me and invited me on a visit. I went on my official visit in November of my junior year and just absolutely fell in love with the school, fell in love with the people and I think I committed four days after my visit."
 
Simpson and the Bulldogs had a stellar season in 2021. The team won an eighth-straight Southern Conference regular season title, won the SoCon Tournament and even earned a 2-0 first-round NCAA Tournament win at Auburn. Simpson talked about how the team had built off of that success coming into the current season.
 
"I think it's really difficult when you have a lot of change," Simpson said. "We had really great leadership last year from our seniors. So, they left the team and then we also have a lot of incoming freshmen, new transfers, and so I think that is just going to shift the chemistry of the team all together. But we're just focusing on the things that led us through a great season last year like accountability, like sticking up for each other, like having each other's back no matter what, loving each other on and off the field. I think those things are really important to the foundation of our program and to our success as well."
 
Simpson talked about what the team needs to do to take the program to an even higher level than it has already reached.
 
"I think it's just trying to be encouraging and uplifting," Simpson said. "Everyone's not going to have a great practice all the time. People are going to mess up, people are going to make mistakes, and just knowing that, hey, I made a mistake too, it's okay, let's work harder and get the next one. Just really encouraging our teammates and even trying to make relationships off the field as well, I feel like that helps with everyone's motive of going forward and pushing hard and working together to win as a team."
 
The Bulldogs have recently wrapped up non-conference play with a 4-2-3 record. Simpson talked about how the team stays positive even when things don't go their way.
 
"It's difficult to have a perfect season every season," Simpson. "We go up against really hard teams, and I'm so thankful for that, no matter the result because that builds us and that makes us better as a whole. But I think it's just picking each other up, looking forward to the next game instead of focusing on the last game."
 
Simpson and the Samford defense has allowed just five goals in the nine games the Bulldogs have played so far. The team has played stellar competition but has still not allowed more than one goal to any regular season opponent. Simpson talked about how they approach playing the bigger teams on the schedule.
 
"It's so much fun," Simpson said. "I can't explain the hype that our team gets to play a team like Auburn or Ole Miss and it's just like there's so much build up and so much energy and so much passion that it is so fun to play those big teams and show them who we are and who Samford soccer is and what we deserve to be recognized as, which is a really good team. I've had so much fun growing alongside our team during those moments."
 
Simpson and the Bulldogs will open Southern Conference play this weekend by hosting The Citadel Friday at 6 p.m. and Mercer Sunday at 1 p.m. Admission to the games is free. To follow all games this season, click on the following link: 2022 SAMFORD SOCCER SCHEDULE.



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For the latest news and information on Samford women's soccer, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordSoccer (Instagram) and @SamfordSoccer (Twitter).