Sept. 26, 2009

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Samford University soccer team will face one of its toughest challenges of the 2009 season Sunday as the Bulldogs square off against the College of Charleston Cougars in a key road Southern Conference contest beginning at noon at Patriot's Point.

Samford (6-0-1, 1-0 SoCon) enters the matchup riding the positive momentum of a six-game winning streak. The Bulldogs have not allowed a goal this season and earned their seventh-consecutive shutout Friday in a 1-0 SoCon victory at The Citadel. Samford's Sarah Wilkinson scored the game-winning goal in the conference-opening triumph.

Wilkinson, the Bulldogs' sophomore forward from Euless, Texas, leads the team with four goals this season. Three of her four scores have proven to be game-winners. Senior Amber Cress follows with three goals this season. She is currently ranked fourth on Samford's all-time goals-scored list with 19.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alyssa Whitehead has not allowed a goal in 640 minutes of action this season. On Friday, she picked up her sixth complete-game shutout of the 2009 campaign.

College of Charleston (5-3-1, 1-0 SoCon) heads into Sunday's showdown in the midst of a three-match winning streak. After suffering a hard-fought 3-0 loss at Virginia Tech on Sept. 13, the Cougars have reeled off consecutive victories against USC Upstate 4-0, Charleston Southern 3-0 and Chattanooga 1-0.

In Friday's shutout win against Chattanooga, the College of Charleston's true freshman Alyssa Bearden tallied the game-winning goal during the 57th minute of play. On the score, Bearden stole a pass from a Chattanooga defender, squared to the goal and fired a shot from 25 yards out that went over the outstretched arms of Lady Moc goalie Taylor Davidson.

The goal was unassisted and was the second for Bearden in as many games, as she registered the first score of her collegiate career in Tuesday's 3-0 win over Charleston Southern.

Samford owns a 1-0-1 all-time record against College of Charleston. Last year, the teams met for the first time in school history and played twice during the season. The Bulldogs earned a 1-0 home victory during the regular season and then advanced past the Cougars in the opening round of the SoCon Tournament.

Samford hosted the College of Charleston at Bulldog Field in the 2008 SoCon Tournament and played to a scoreless draw. In the penalty-kick shootout, the Bulldogs outscored the Cougars 4-1 to advance to the semifinal round of the championship.

Following Sunday's road matchup at the College of Charleston, Samford will next be in action Friday at 7 p.m., as the Bulldogs continue their SoCon schedule at home against the Western Carolina Catamounts.

Live Stats - Samford at College of Charleston