JOHNSTON CITY, Tenn. – The Samford University soccer team overcame an early 2-0 deficit to earn a thrilling 3-2, double overtime win over Chattanooga in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference Tournament Friday night at ETSU's Summers-Taylor Stadium.
 
The score was knotted at 2-2 when Mary Raymond found the back of the net in the 107^th minute off a corner kick from Whitaker Buchanan and another assist from Kylie Gazza to give Samford the 3-2 lead. The Bulldog defense held Chattanooga off the scoreboard in the final three minutes to secure the win for Samford.
 
With the win, Samford improved to 11-3-5 on the season, and the Bulldogs advanced to Sunday's semifinal round where Samford will face the host school, ETSU. Chattanooga ended its season with a mark of 10-7-1.
 
Chattanooga got the scoring started when Birna Johannsdottir scored the first of her two goals, this one off assists from Caroline Richvalsky and Zoey Mize for a 1-0 Mocs' lead in the fifth minute of the contest. Johannsdottir struck again in the 40^th minute off another assist from Richvalsky for a 2-0 Chattanooga advantage. Samford got on the scoreboard when Layton Glisson scored off an assist from Nikki Bario in the 44^th minute to make the score 2-1 heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
The teams played through most of the second half scoreless until Samford's Ella Simpson scored off an assist from Jennifer Seward in the 81^st minute to knot the score at 2-2 and eventually force overtime.
 
As a team, Samford outshot Chattanooga, 16-5. The Bulldogs had eight corner kicks, to just one for the Mocs. Buchanan led Samford with three shots. Johannsdottir had two shots to lead Chattanooga.
 
Samford and ETSU will play in the SoCon Tournament semifinals Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) from Summers-Taylor Stadium, with the winner advancing to the tournament finals the following weekend on the campus of the highest remaining seed.
 
SCORING SUMMARY
UTC: Birna Johannsdottir, 5^th minute, assists from Caroline Richvalsky and Zoey Mize
UTC: Birna Johannsdottir, 40^th minute, assist from Caroline Richvalsky
SAM: Layton Glisson, 44^th minute, assist from Nikki Bario
SAM: Ella Simpson, 81^st minute, assist from Jennifer Seward
SAM: Mary Raymond, 107^th minute, assists from Kylie Gazza and Whitaker Buchanan
 
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