Birmingham, Ala. – Samford's Samantha De Luca scored with 2:03 left in regulation to lift the second-seeded Bulldogs to a 1-0 victory over No. 3 seed Furman in the semifinal round of the Southern Conference Women's Soccer Championship on Sunday afternoon at Shauna Yelton Field in Birmingham, Ala.
 
The victory propelled Samford (11-6-3) into the SoCon Championship Match next weekend at No. 1 Western Carolina, who punched its ticket to the finals with a 2-0 win over No. 5 seed Chattanooga on Sunday. Furman concluded its 2024 season at 10-7-3.
 
With the match scoreless and less than 2:30 remaining, Samford won the ball in the midfield and Hanna Himes sent a pass ahead to De Luca. The forward headed the ball past her defender into open space on the left side of the box before placing a left-footed strike into the right-hand side netting for the decisive goal. 
 
"I'm proud of our team and their effort today and throughout the season," said Paladin head coach Andrew Burr. "We had to come play a tough opponent on their home field without a couple of our veteran leaders and then we lost Tara Katz in the first 10 minutes, but this group kept fighting. We improved throughout the season and put ourselves in position to contend."
 
Furman created several dangerous chances in the opening 45 minutes. Left back Ava King send a free kick into the box from near midfielder that bounced and had to be tipped over the bar. IN the 26^th minute, Shania Diaz unleashed a shot from the top of the box that Samford's Peyton Hull had to dive to her left to smother. King created havoc on a corner kick late in the half when her curling in-swinger had to be pushed wide by Hull.
 
The Paladins' best opportunity of the second half came in the 63^rd minute when freshman Jaleah Simmons dribbled across the top of the box and curled a left-footed shot towards the upper left-hand corner that just went wide of the post. Simmons posted a team-high three shots for the Paladins, who lost leading scorer Tara Katz to injury in the opening minutes of the match.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Reese DeJong stopped five shots on the day, including four in the second half. Hull also recorded five saves for the Bulldogs.
 
Samford finished with a 13-12 edge in total shot attempts and 6-5 margin in shots on goal.

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 vs. 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)

Saturday, Nov. 9, or Sunday, Nov. 10
Final
Match 9: No. 2 Samford at No. 1 Western Carolina, TBD