Samford wins regular-season title; earn No. 1 seed

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford claimed the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Southern Conference Women’s Soccer Championship after posting an 7-0-2 league mark this season.

The Bulldogs won their first regular season crown since 2022, clinching the outright title with a 2-1 win on Sunday over UNCG. Samford will be looking for its second consecutive SoCon Tournament crown this season, after winning last year's title match, 1-0, over Western Carolina.

The tournament begins on Tuesday, Oct. 28, with a pair of first-round matches on campus sites. The quarterfinal round follows on Oct. 31 with the semifinal round set for Nov. 2, both hosted by top-seed Samford and No. 2 seed Western Carolina. The championship will be played at the highest remaining seed on Nov. 8 or 9.

Western Carolina went 5-2-2 in league play to earn the No. 2 seed. The Catamounts await the winner of the matchup between No. 7 UNCG and No. 10 VMI. Western Carolina topped UNCG, 4-2, on Oct. 19, and defeated VMI, 9-0, on Oct. 2.

ETSU is the No. 3 seed. The Buccaneers will play No. 6 Mercer in the quarterfinals at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. The two teams tied, 1-1, back on Sept. 26, in Macon.

The No. 4 seed is Chattanooga, who will face fifth-seeded Furman on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. CT. The Mocs and Paladins played to a 1-1 tie in Chattanooga on Oct. 16.

UNCG and VMI’s first round match will take place in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. The Spartans won their first matchup of the season, 4-0, on Sept. 18.

Wofford, who is the No. 8 seed, will host No. 9 The Citadel on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. The Terriers and Bulldogs tied 1-1 on Sept. 21.

Samford will host the winner of Wofford and The Citadel on Friday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. CT.

 
The tournament winner earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship.
 
2025 Women's Soccer Championship
Tuesday, Oct. 28
First Round (at higher seeds)
Match 1: No. 9 The Citadel at No. 8 Wofford, 6 p.m.
Match 2: No 10 VMI at No. 7 UNCG, 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 31
Quarterfinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 3: Winner Match 1 at No. 1 Samford, 4 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Alabama)
Match 4: No. 4 Chattanooga vs. No. 5 Furman, 7 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Alabama)
Match 5: Winner Match 2 at No. 2 Western Carolina, 7 p.m. (Cullowhee, North Carolina)
Match 6: No. 3 ETSU vs. No. 6 Mercer, 4 p.m. (Cullowhee, North Carolina)

Sunday, Nov. 2
Semifinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 7: Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4, 1 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Alabama)
Match 8: Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6, 2 p.m. (Cullowhee, North Carolina)

Saturday, Nov. 8, or Sunday, Nov. 9
Final (Highest remaining seed, location TBD)
Match 9: Winner Match 7 vs. Winner Match 8, TBD

*all times Eastern unless otherwise noted