Samford’s soccer team begins conference play after a successful non-conference run they will look to build upon. Some highlights are a draw against a top-five Alabama squad, beating Ole Miss and scoring four goals in a blowout win against Oklahoma.
Goalkeeper Zoe Clevely feels secure in the team’s success this season and hopes for a broader circle of recognition going forward.
“I believe that our preseason schedule and success allowed us to realize what we are capable of and set our identity going into conference. We have big goals that don’t just have to do with success during the conference; we want to make our name for ourselves outside of it as well,” said Clevely.
So far, the Bulldogs have played three conference games. They lost their first matchup against Western Carolina 1-0 on Family Weekend, not being able to find the back of the net despite having 15 shots to the Catamounts’ six.
Western Carolina’s goalkeeper, Leanne Trudel, recorded four saves in an impressive performance. Clevely, who transferred from Pepperdine after a year off from playing soccer, registered one save and allowed one goal.
“Our loss to Western Carolina was an opportunity for us to come back together as a team and remind each other of what our identity is and what we are trying to accomplish this year,” Clevely commented.
Following last Friday’s loss to Western Carolina, Samford visited Wofford, hoping for a bounce-back win. The Bulldogs’ defensive play, anchored by Alyssa Conarton and Kylie Gazza, was strong against Wofford; they did not allow a single shot on goal. Clevely and backup goalkeeper Emma Donley shared a shutout in an impressive 5-0 victory for Samford.
The scoring against Wofford was led by midfielder Mary Raymond, who scored two of her three shots. Goals were also scored by forwards Layla Brown and Kyla Reynolds; another goal was scored by substitute forward Taylor Yount.
“I truly think that win was a whole team effort. We all pressed together, and I think that is what worked best,” said Raymond.
The Bulldogs would continue their success against VMI on Thursday, Sept. 28 at home, where they had another shutout win, this time by a score of 3-0. The defense allowed zero shots on goal again.
Reynolds and Brown each had a goal in the VMI match. Substitute Whitaker Buchanan also scored a goal. Most recently, the Bulldogs vanquished UNCG in another 3-0 shutout. This was Samford’s tenth shutout, the best mark in the country.
Samford has outscored their opponents 11-0 in their last three matchups and will look to continue their hot streak with a road matchup against rival Furman on Thursday, Oct. 5.
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