GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. WESTERN CAROLINA (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University soccer team will play at Western Carolina in the championship game of the Southern Conference Tournament Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) in Cullowhee, N.C.

Samford and Western Carolina have met 20 previous times, with Samford owning a 14-5-1 series lead. The teams met earlier this season, with WCU winning, 1-0 in Cullowhee, N.C. This marks the second-straight season these two teams have met in the SoCon Tournament championship game. Last season, the teams played in Cullowhee for the title, with the Catamounts winning by a score of 1-0.
 
Samford has an all-time record of 26-9-5 in SoCon Tournament games. Samford has won the tournament in 2011, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022. The winner of Sunday's game will earn the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Samford enters this game with a record of 11-6-3 overall and 6-1-2 in the SoCon. The Bulldogs opened the SoCon Tournament with a 2-1 win over UNC Greensboro and then advanced to the finals with a 1-0 win over Furman.

For Samford so far this season, Layton Glisson leads the team with seven goals to go along with four assists for 18 points. Whitaker Buchanan has three goals and eight assists for 14 points. Sam De Luca has five goals, including the game-winning goal against Furman in the SoCon semifinals. Fleming Dean and Ella Simpson have netted four goals each. In goal for Samford, Peyton Hull has played 1370:40, posting a 1.51 goals against average.
 
Western Carolina enters Sunday's game with a mark of 15-2-3 overall and 8-0-1 in SoCon play. The Catamounts reached the championship game with a 2-0 win over Chattanooga.

The Catamounts have been led so far this season by Milla Syska with 11 goals and four assists. Naya Marcil has 10 goals and five assists, while Isabella DeMarco has eight goals and nine assists. Leanne Trudel has started all 20 games in goal, posting a 0.46 goals against average.
 
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available online. For links to follow all Samford soccer games this season, click on the following link: 2024 SOCCER SCHEDULE.
 
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
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).