BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – Fresh off a pair of wins over VMI to wrap up the regular season and the opening round of the SoCon Tournament, The Citadel makes a return trip to Samford to take on the two-seeded Bulldogs in the league quarterfinals on Friday. Head coach Ciaran Traquair's squad looks to have the same success in Birmingham like they did a month ago, posting a 1-nil victory for just the program's second-ever win over this year's SoCon preseason favorites.
 
SAMFORD MATCH INFORMATION
Live Links: VIDEO | STATS
Date and Time: Friday Oct. 28, 4:30 P.M.
Location: Shauna Yelton Field
 
THE SERIES WITH SAMFORD
All-Time Record: 2-16-1
Home Record: 0-7
Away Record: 2-8-1
Neutral Record: 0-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 23, 2022 at Samford (W, 1-0)
 
THE CITADEL GETS SECOND WIN OVER VMI IN THREE DAYS TO ADVANCE
Just two days after a 5-1 home win over VMI, The Citadel took a 3-0 victory in the SoCon opening-round rematch with the Keydets Tuesday to advance to the quarterfinals at two-seeded Samford. The Citadel posted a stunning 1-nil win at Samford on Sept. 23 to thicken the plot entering Friday. Suzuka Yosue had a hand in all three goals Tuesday, generating two goals with one assist, feeding Kristi Jones on the latter score.
 
A WIN WILL...
The winner will remain in Birmingham, Ala. to square off in the SoCon Semifinals Sunday at 1 P.M. CT / 2 P.M. ET against the victor of the Mercer vs. ETSU quarterfinals matchup. The Citadel has its sights set on its first SoCon Semifinals appearance since 2010, where they faced off against Samford, coming up short in a 4-3 contest.
 
FIRST BACK-TO-BACK 10-WIN SEASONS IN HISTORY!
Tuesday's playoff win marked the first time in history The Citadel has posted at least ten wins in consecutive seasons, as well as back-to-back winning records. They are two away from reaching the 2010 team's all-time season wins record of 12.
 
YOSUE RISING THROUGH THE RANKS!
Suzuka Yosue is The Citadel's all-time leader in points and assists with 87 and 35, respectively. She entered her senior year already as the career assists leader, with her assist against VMI Tuesday tying her junior-year school record of 11 assists. Her two goals moved her into fourth all-time with 26 career goals, passing Logan Dix. Yosue leads the SoCon in all scoring categories with 29 points this year on seven goals and 11 assists.
 
GOALIE CAROUSEL IN MOTION
The Citadel is not short on goalkeeping with four on the roster: Brie Sikes, Jessica Newton, Grace Laws, and Shannon Curtis. Sikes has seen the majority of time in net with ten starts, collecting a 6-4 record. Jess Newton is next on the list with five starts and a 2-3 mark. Freshman Grace Laws has appeared in five matches with three starts, earning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week early in the season after wins at USC Upstate and Presbyterian. The goalie corps has logged seven shutouts this season, including three straight.
 
TRAQUAIR ON THE WINNING TRACK
Head coach Ciaran Traquair became the winningest head coach in program history this season with 52 wins. His 48th victory, a 1-nil win at Samford on Sept. 23, allowed Traquair to pass Bob Winch for number one all-time. His .426 winning percentage is also first all-time.
 
THE CITADEL UPSETS SAMFORD!
The Citadel posted a stunning 1-nil victory Sept. 23 at SoCon preseason favorite Samford. Suzuka Yosue scored the game-winner in the 72nd minute off a feed from Zoey Conrad. Goalie Jess Newton logged six saves to give the Bulldogs their third straight shutout victory. It gave The Citadel just its second ever win over Samford and first since 2013, snapping the defending champions' 21-game SoCon regular season non-losing streak dating back to 2019.
 
2022 SOCON TOURNAMENT
Tuesday, Oct. 25: First Round (at higher seeds)
Match 1: No. 9 Furman at No. 8 Wofford (WOF 2-1)
Match 2: No 10 VMI at No. 7 The Citadel (CIT 3-0)
 
Friday, Oct. 28: Quarterfinals (at No. 1 & 2 seeds)
Match 3: No. 8 Wofford at No. 1 Chattanooga,
6:30 p.m. (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Match 4: No. 4 UNCG vs. No. 5 Western Carolina,
4 p.m. (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Match 5: No. 7 The Citadel at No. 2 Samford,
3:30 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Alabama)
Match 6: No. 3 Mercer vs. No. 6 ETSU,
6 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Alabama)
 
Sunday, Oct. 30: Semifinals (at No. 1 & 2 seeds)
Match 7: Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4,
2 p.m. (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
Match 8: Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6,
1 p.m. CT (Birmingham, Alabama)
 
Saturday, Nov. 5, or Sunday, Nov. 6: Final
(Highest remaining seed, location TBD)
Match 9: Winner Match 7 vs. Winner Match 8, TBD