BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The second-seeded Samford Bulldogs won their fifth Southern Conference Championship and third in four seasons as the Bulldogs outlasted the No. 4 seed UNCG, 6-5, in penalty kicks after a scoreless draw on Sunday afternoon at the Samford Track and Soccer Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama.
Sunday’s championship match was the first title game that has been decided via penalty kicks since 2012, when Georgia Southern defeated Furman 5-4 in penalty kicks.
The intensity of a championship contest began early in the match as UNCG goalkeeper Emma Malone, a conference all-freshman team selection, received a yellow card inside the box to set up a penalty kick for Samford. Malone responded by saving the penalty kick attempt from Nikki Barrio to keep the contest scoreless.
Samford would get two more scoring opportunities early in the contest. Taylor Yount, a first-team all-conference selection, attempted a shot for the Bulldogs that was knocked away by Malone in the seventh minute. In the 20th minute, Whitaker Buchanan took a shot from right outside the box and Malone got her third save of the half to keep the score at 0-0.
The Bulldogs outshot the Spartans 10-4 in the first half and had six corner kicks to just two for UNCG. Three of Samford’s shots were on goal, while none of UNCG’s were on goal. Despite the aggressive offense from Samford, the score remained 0-0 after one half of play.
Both teams began the second half with strong defensive play. The first true scoring opportunity for either team came in the 62nd minute as Samford’s Mary Raymond found the left corner of the net; however, play had been stopped seconds before the kick due to a foul from the Bulldogs and the contest stayed scoreless.
UNCG had its first opportunity to score in the second half as Chloe Lausell, a second-team all-conference selection, had the Spartans’ first shot on goal in the 68th minute. The shot was saved by Emma Donley, her first save of the contest, to keep the score notched at 0-0
Samford followed UNCG’s shot on goal with three corner kicks during the 69th and 70th minutes. The UNCG defense stood tall throughout those corner kicks and did not allow a shot on goal.
Layton Glisson had a pair of opportunities to put the first goal of the day on the board for the Bulldogs late in the second half. Glisson had shots on goal in the 73rd and 80th minute, but both were saved by Malone. Samford had one last chance to score in regulation as Kristen Goodroe went for the top left corner of the goal in the 89th minute, but Malone secured her sixth save of the day and the match headed to overtime.
In the first overtime, the only shot on goal came in the final minute of the frame. Kylie Gazza, a first-team all-conference selection, launched a free kick into the box after a foul by UNCG. The Bulldogs scrambled to get a shot in the net, but Malone would grab the ball and the match would head into the second overtime.
In the 104th minute, Lindsay Origliasso had her shot saved by Malone. Neither team would have another scoring opportunity as the game headed into a shootout.
The two teams were tied at two goals apiece in the shootout after each squad had five attempts. Each side made its sixth, seventh and eighth attempts to take the shootout into a ninth round. Caroline Donovan made her shot for Samford to force UNCG to make its attempt to keep the match going. The Spartans sent Hannah Morton out to keep the game alive, but Donley was able to make a diving save a secure the victory for the Bulldogs.
Donley, the 2022 SoCon Championship Most Outstanding Player, tallied one save in the win, while Malone tallied eight saves in the loss.
Samford outshot UNCG 29-7 and the Bulldogs dominated the Spartans 16-3 in corner kicks.
The Bulldogs (11-3-7), who earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, will find out where they play next during the NCAA Selection show, which airs on NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 7, at 4 p.m. ET.
2022 SoCon Women’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Grace Duncan, The Citadel
Sydney Somogyi, ETSU
Helen Gutierrez, Furman
Lindsay Bell, Mercer
Jamie Hlebec, Mercer
Dalani Stephens, UNCG
Eliza Radoll, UNCG
Maddy Gilhool, UNCG
Emma Donley, Samford
Carolina Donovan, Samford
Ella Simpson, Samford
Whitaker Buchanan, Samford
Shelby Hash, Chattanooga
Caroline Richvalsky, Chattanooga
Jillian Hall, VMI
Kaitlyn Galbraith, Western Carolina
Lexi Reichenbach, Wofford
Most Outstanding Player
Emma Donley, Samford
Pinnacle Award (highest cumulative GPA among championship-eligible student-athletes on winning team)
Mary Raymond, Samford
2022 Women's Soccer Championship
Tuesday, Oct. 25
First Round (at higher seeds)
Match 1: No. 8 Wofford 2, No. 9 Furman 1
Match 2: No. 7 The Citadel 3, No 10 VMI 0
Friday, Oct. 28
Quarterfinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 3: No. 1 Chattanooga 2, No. 8 Wofford 1 (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Match 4: No. 4 UNCG 2, No. 5 Western Carolina 1 (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Match 5: No. 2 Samford 2, No. 7 The Citadel 0 (Birmingham, Alabama)
Match 6: No. 3 Mercer 1, No. 6 ETSU 1 (2OT, MER 3-2 PKs) (Birmingham, Alabama)
Sunday, Oct. 30
Semifinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 7: No. 4 UNCG 2, No. 1 Chattanooga 1 (2OT) (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Match 8: No. 2 Samford 1, No. 3 Mercer 0 (Birmingham, Alabama)
Sunday, Nov. 6
Final (Birmingham, Alabama)
Match 9: No. 2 Samford 0, No. 4 UNCG 0 (6-5 (9) PKs)