Samford wins 2024 SoCon Women's Soccer Championship

CULLOWHEE, North Carolina – The No. 3 seed Samford Bulldogs won their sixth SoCon Tournament title as the Bulldogs outlasted the top seed Western Carolina, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Catamount Athletics Complex in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

Sunday’s championship win for Samford was the program’s fourth title in six seasons. During this season’s title run, each of the Bulldogs’ win was a one-goal victory.

The opening half of the game was a defensive struggle as the two teams combined for just five total shots. The one shot on goal in the first frame came from Western Carolina’s Kirsten Hahn in the 33rd minute, which was saved by the Samford goalkeeper Peyton Hull.

Samford was able to strike the game’s only score in the opening minutes of the second half. First-team all-conference performers combined for the Bulldogs’ goal as Whitaker Buchanan found Ella Simpson off a corner kick to break the scoreless tie in the 53rd minute.
 
Western Carolina had a number of scoring opportunities throughout the second half but were unable to capitalize. The Catamounts had 15 total shots after halftime, with seven of those being on goal. The Catamounts outshot the Bulldogs 18-4 for the game and Western Carolina had 12 corner kicks to just three for Samford.

  
The Bulldogs (12-6-3), 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. 11, at 4 p.m. ET.

2024 SoCon Women’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team 
Elisa Fuentes, The Citadel
Natalie Capannelli, ETSU
Katie Bengough, Furman
Ellie Herrmann, Furman

Larkin Thomason, Mercer
Rachel Poplin, UNCG
Caroline Donovan, Samford

Kaitlin Maynard, Samford

Ella Simpson, Samford

Maison Wells, Samford
Caroline Richvalsky, Chattanooga

Clarissa Salinas, Chattanooga

Riley Boucher, VMI
Naya Marcil, Western Carolina

Mary Mueth, Western Carolina

Abbie Wise, Western Carolina

Megan Childress, Wofford
 
Most Outstanding Player 
Caroline Donovan, Samford
 
Knight Commission Pinnacle Award (highest cumulative GPA among championship-eligible student-athletes on winning team)
Layton Glisson, Samford
 
2024 Women's Soccer Championship
Tuesday, Oct. 29
First Round (at higher seeds)
Match 1: No. 8 Wofford 3, No. 9 VMI 2
Match 2: No. 7 UNCG 3, No 10 The Citadel 0

Friday, Nov. 1
Quarterfinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 3: No. 1 Western Carolina 6, No. 8 Wofford 1 (Cullowhee, North Carolina)
Match 4: No. 5 Chattanooga 3, No. 4 Mercer 2 (OT) (Cullowhee, North Carolina)
Match 5: No. 2 Samford 2, No. 7 UNCG 1 (Birmingham, Alabama)
Match 6: No. 3 Furman 2, No. 6 ETSU 1 (Birmingham, Alabama)

Sunday, Nov. 3
Semifinals (at No. 1 & No. 2 seeds)
Match 7: No. 1 Western Carolina 2, No. 5 Chattanooga 0 (Cullowhee, North Carolina)
Match 8: No. 2 Samford 1, No. 3 Furman 0 (Birmingham, Alabama)

Sunday, Nov. 10
Final (Cullowhee, North Carolina)
Match 9: No. 2 Samford 1, No. 1 Western Carolina 0