Ole Miss Soccer Aims Best Start Ever

Oct. 4, 2000

OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss soccer team will be shooting for the best start in school history this weekend in a Southeastern Conference swing through Alabama. The Rebels (9-2, 2-0 SEC) face the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa Friday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Auburn to take on the Tigers Sunday at 1 p.m.

SEC Western Division leader Ole Miss is in the midst of a school record nine-game winning streak after opening conference play last weekend with victories over LSU and Arkansas. The Rebels' 9-2 start matches its best ever. Ole Miss opened the 1999 season winning nine of its first 11, before falling at LSU.

Ole Miss is currently ranked seventh in the Central Region by Soccer Buzz and eighth by the NSCAA.

Freshman forward Amy Sample came off the bench to lead the Rebels last weekend, posting the first four goals of her career. The Crestwood, Ky., native netted the game-winner in the 79th minute against LSU, and notched her first hat trick with three goals in 15 minutes against Arkansas.

After beginning the year 3-0, Alabama (4-8, 0-2 SEC) has dropped eight of its last nine, including a pair of SEC home losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt last weekend. The Crimson Tide's top three goal-scorers this season are freshmen. Heading the class is midfielder Katie Holtzapfel, who boasts four goals and nine points.

As a team, Auburn (9-3, 0-2 SEC) leads the conference in points, goals and assists this year, and has already surpassed the single-season school records for team points and assists in a season. Leading the offensive barrage is junior forward Tammy Waine, who is the nation's leading scorer at 2.92 points per game (35) and 1.33 goals per game (16). Also, Tiger freshman Kellie Evans tops the SEC in assists with 10, one ahead of Rebel midfielder Jennifer Soileau.

Ole Miss swept the Alabama schools for the first time last year in Oxford, on the way to winning its first ever SEC West crown.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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