GAME NOTES--SAMFORD AT NOTRE DAME (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford soccer team will open the 2026 season by playing at second-ranked Notre Dame on Aug. 12, at 6 p.m. (CT) in South Bend, Indiana. The game can be seen live online on ACCNX.

Samford and Notre Dame have met just once previously in women's soccer. The teams played on Aug. 18, 2024, with the Fighting Irish taking a 6-0 win at Shauna Yelton Field.
 
Samford returns seven starters and 21 letterwinners from last year's team that posted a record of 13-3-5 overall and 7-0-2 in Southern Conference play. Samford returns 75.5 percent (34-of-45) of its goals, 68.3 percent (28-of-41) of its assists and 73.2 percent (96-of-131) of its total points from last season. 

Samford was picked as the favorite to win the SoCon in the league's preseason poll. Additionally, forward Sam De Luca, defender Caroline Smith and goalkeeper Peyton Hull were all named to the preseason All-SoCon team. 
 
De Luca returns after leading Samford and the Southern Conference in goals with 15 and in points with 34. Her 15 goals are the second-highest single-season total in school history, and her 34 points rank third in school history. She was named the SoCon Player of the Year and the SoCon Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
 
Hull, a native of South Bend, Indiana, returns after a stellar season in goal in 2025. Hull was named second team All-SoCon after leading the Southern Conference with 13 wins and ranking second in the league with a 0.99 goals against average. Hull also led the league and tied for fifth in the nation with 11 shutouts.

Samford head coach Todd Yelton enters his 25th season in charge of the program. He has a career record of 341-154-73, and he is Samford's all-time winningest coach with a mark of 301-122-69 in his time with the Bulldogs.
 
Notre Dame posted a record of 15-2-3 overall and 8-1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2025. 

The Irish's top returning player is Izzy Engle, who finished the 2025 season with a team-best 19 goals, to go along with six assists for a team-high 44 points. Notre Dame also returns its starting goalkeeper from last season, Sonoma Kasica, who posted a 0.96 goals against average last season. She saved 60 shots and had seven total shutouts.
 
The game can be seen live online via ACCNX and live stats will also be available. For links to follow all of Samford's games this season, click on the following link: 2026 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).