GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. TENNESSEE TECH (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University soccer team will open the 2024 season by playing host to Tennessee Tech Thursday at 6 p.m. and then hosting 15^th-ranked Notre Dame Sunday at 6 p.m., both at Shauna Yelton Field.
 
Samford and Tennessee Tech have met 12 previous times, with Samford owning a 9-2-1 series lead. The teams last met on Sept. 15, 2022, with Samford taking a 1-0 victory. Samford and Tennessee Tech were co-members of the Ohio Valley Conference for five seasons from 2003 through 2007 prior to Samford leaving the OVC for the Southern Conference. Samford and Notre Dame will be meeting for the first time ever in soccer.
 
Samford returns four starters and 20 letterwinners from last year's team that posted a record of 12-4-5 overall and 6-1-2 in Southern Conference play.

Samford's leading returning scorer is graduate Mia Wehby, who netted four goals and dished out three assists for a total of 11 points last season. Whitaker Buchanan tallied three goals and three assists for nine points last season, while Ella Simpson contributed four goals for eight total points in 2023. Buchanan and Simpson were both named preseason All-SoCon earlier this month.

Samford head coach Todd Yelton enters his 23rd season in charge of the program. He has a career record of 316-144-65, and he is Samford's all-time winningest coach with a mark of 276-112-61 in his time with the Bulldogs.
 
Tennessee Tech posted a record of 9-6-4 overall and 7-1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play last season. The Golden Eagles return three of their top five scorers from last season, led by Katie Toney with six goals and seven assists for a total of 19 points a year ago.
 
Notre Dame finished the 2023 season with a record of 12-4-4 overall and 7-1-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Fighting Irish return two of their top five scorers from last season, led by Ellie Ospeck who netted five goals and dished out seven assists for a total of 17 points.
 
Admission is free to all home soccer games. Live stats will be available for both games and the Notre Dame game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. 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).