Rebels Hand Out Soccer Awards

Dec. 18, 2001

OXFORD, Miss. - After a season that saw the Rebel soccer team earn a fifth straight SEC Tournament bid and advance to the semifinal round, Ole Miss recently recognized a few of the players that helped the Rebels remain the winningest team in the SEC West over the past five seasons.

UM senior Melinda Smith picked up the Team MVP Award. A native of Tacoma, Wash., Smith ranked among the top goalies in the conference in 2001. On November 15, she was named SEC Player of the Week after posting shutouts of Alabama and Auburn. Smith leaves Oxford as Ole Miss' all-time leader in every goalkeeping statistical category with a 1.53 goals-against average, 232 saves, 14.7 shutouts and 29 victories in goal.

Collecting the Offensive MVP Award was sophomore forward Tiffany Weiss. The Dallas native caught fire in her second season with the Rebels, leading the squad in goals (7) and overall points (18). She earned All-Tournament honors at both the UAB Nike Classic and the SEC Tournament, where she notched her second multiple-goal game of the year in the opening round win over Mississippi State.

Kristin Chapman received the Defensive MVP Award. A two-time NSCAA All-Region honoree from Vicksburg, Miss., Chapman is one of only two players to have started every game over the last two years. She picked up her second straight All-SEC selection in 2001, first with the first team, in addition to taking SEC All-Tournament accolades, after starting at forward and collecting two assists in the Rebels' semifinal finish.

Liz Holder garnered the Most Improved Player Award. A freshman from Marietta, Ga., Holder provided key midfield depth for the Rebels during their stretch run, seeing substantial playing time over the last seven games. For the season, Holder played in 12 games and made her first career start at Northern Arizona.

Sharing the Unsung Hero Award were freshmen Lindley Beckman and Ramey Rush. Beckman of Anchorage, Ky., was an invaluable member of the Ole Miss attack, whether in the midfield or the defense. She played in every game and finished the season third on the team in scoring with four goals and three assists. Included in her scores is the game-tying goal against UTEP and the game-winner against Arkansas on a 25-yard boot in overtime.

A defender from Meridian, Miss., Rush is one of only three players to have started every game in 2001. Despite some late-season injuries, Rush played nearly every minute of the regular season and helped the Rebel defense post seven shutouts and allow only 1.3 goals per game.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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