Soccer Opens SoCon Play With 2-2 Draw With Western Carolina

Thursday, September 18

Birmingham, Ala.

6 PM

Samford University

3-2-4, 0-0-1

Western Carolina

4-3-3, 0-0-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Western Caro.	0	2	2
Samford	1	1	2

Soccer Opens SoCon Play With 2-2 Draw With Western Carolina

9.18.25 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford soccer team opened the Southern Conference season with a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Western Carolina Thursday evening at Shauna Yelton Field.'

With the tie, Samford now has a record of 3-2-4 overall and 0-0-1 in Southern Conference play. Western Carolina's record moved to 4-3-3 overall and 0-0-1 in league play.

"That game was wide open," Samford head coach Todd Yelton said. "That was probably fun to watch unless you're coaching in it. That's a team that's the defending (Southern Conference) champions. I certainly thought we created enough chances tonight for sure."

Samford's Martha Bishop got the scoring started with her goal in the 26th minute off an assist from Clare Nicholas. The teams went to halftime with Samford holding a 1-0 advantage.

Western Carolina tied the game when Isabella DeMarco scored off an assist from Milla Syska in the 58th minute to knot the score at 1-1. Samford took the lead again in the 74th minute when Sam De Luca scored off an assist from Langston Lilly for a 2-1 Bulldog advantage. Just five minutes later, in the 79th minute, WCU's Emma Soucy scored an unassisted goal to bring the game back even at 2-2.

For Samford, De Luca led the team with five shots, followed by Bishop with four shots and Nicholas with three. Goalkeeper Peyton Hull saved nine shots, while allowing the two goals. The goals were the first allowed by Hull since Aug. 24, as she went 520 minutes without allowing a goal.

Western Carolina was led by DeMarco with six shots and Syska with five. WCU goalkeeper Leanne Trudel also saved nine shots, while allowing two goals.

Next up, Samford will play host to the Chattanooga Mocs on Sunday, Sept. 21. The game is set for a 1 p.m. start from Shauna Yelton Field.

SCORING SUMMARY
SAM: 26^th minute, Martha Bishop goal off an assist from Clare Nicholas
WCU: 58^th minute, Isabella DeMarco goal off an assist from Milla Syska
SAM: 74^th minute, Sam De Luca goal off an assist from Langston Lilly
WCU: 79^th minute, Emma Soucy goal, unassisted

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