The University of Mississippi Athletics
2001 Ole Miss Soccer Preview
8/29/2001 | Soccer
Aug. 26, 2001
"Play with the end in mind"
The Ole Miss soccer team carries this motto into the 2001 season. The "end" their sights are focused on is a third straight SEC Western Division title and the program's first ever NCAA Tournament berth.
"Our goals this season are to defend our SEC West title and qualify for the NCAAs," said Rebel head coach Steve Holeman, who has headed the program since its inception in 1994. "We fell just short of an NCAA berth last year, and we feel like with the improved quality of our non-conference schedule, we've put ourselves in a position to make the Tournament. We want to make sure we have no regrets when the season is finished."
The Rebels were the overwhelming pick to three-peat as SEC West champs in the coaches' preseason poll, picking up 63 points and eight first-place votes. They also begin the season ranked 10th in the Central Region by Soccer Buzz.
To help in their bid for a spot in the NCAA Championships, The Rebels stepped up their non-conference schedule this season. To go along with SEC powers like preseason No. 16 Florida and No. 25 Kentucky, Ole Miss also faces fourth-ranked Virginia and 22nd-ranked Arizona State in addition to successful programs like TCU and James Madison.
Tackling the strong schedule will be some experienced players and a huge crop of newcomers. Ole Miss returns 12 letterwinners and only six starters from last year's 13-6-1 squad. With the departure of Jennifer Soileau, Jessica O'Neill and Regan Scanlon, the leadership of the Rebels falls into new hands, many of which are rookies.
Ole Miss adds 11 freshman to the roster in 2001 with a handful leaping directly into the starting lineup. How they adjust to Southeastern Conference competition could determine whether Ole Miss makes the next step into the nation's elite in women's soccer.
"We are a very different team this season," Holeman said. "We'll be young. We lost some key players, but we have a great incoming freshman class. It's just a matter of time before the new players gel with our veterans."
GOALKEEPERS
The Rebels' lone senior lies in goal. Melinda Smith enters the final season of her career as Ole Miss' all-time leader in goals-against average at 1.55 and shutouts with 10. Last year was her best as she collected a 10-5-1 record with 73 saves, three shutouts and a UM single-season record 1.29 GAA.
"Melinda has really stepped up for us," Holeman said. "We're really looking forward to her being a leader for us. She has had a great career and has that big game experience."
Brittany Gillespie gives the Rebels' another SEC-caliber goalkeeper. The sophomore from Modesto, Calif., posted a 3-1 mark in limited action in 2000 with a 1.47 GAA. Gillespie's 14 saves against Pepperdine were the most by an SEC goalkeeper in a game last season.
Sophomore Heather Wilemon and freshman Kelly Arnold will serve as reserves for the Rebels in goal.
DEFENDERS
Despite the loss of O'Neill, the Rebels return a talented corps in the defense, led by 2000 All-SEC second team selection Kristin Chapman. The Vicksburg, Miss., native transferred to UM from Florida just prior to the season's start, and moved immediately into the starting lineup. A four-time Mississippi High School Player of the Year, Chapman was named to All-Tournament teams at the KU Jayhawk Classic and the LSU Invitational, where she was Defensive MVP.
"Kristin provides leadership for this team," Holeman said. "With her speed and great knowledge of the game, Kristin really stabilizes us on the field."
Erin Edmundson returns after starting all 20 games of her freshman campaign at right back. Last year, the 5-foot-10 Edmundson helped the Rebels post five shutouts and set a new school record for fewest goals-allowed in a season.
After playing center midfielder off the bench a year ago, junior Megan Bowman could see the majority of her time in the defense this season. A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Bowman has missed only four games over the last two years.
Freshman Ramey Rush could start at outside back in her rookie campaign. Rush was a three-time Mississippi All-State selection from Meridian, where she graduated as MHS' all-time leading goal scorer.
"Ramey has been a great surprise," Holeman said. "She has good speed and is very composed on the ball. She is a very tenacious player."
Courtney Biddle and walk-on freshman Brooke Johnson might also see action at defender.
MIDFIELDERS
Ole Miss faces the daunting task of replacing Soileau in the midfield. The Rebels' all-time leading scorer, Soileau has been one of the SEC's best, earning first team all-conference honors the past three seasons. She played for the Philadelphia Charge of the WUSA last season.
Helping ease the loss is junior Anna Sanders. The Fayetteville, Ark., native was second on the team in assists last season and was the Rebels' best player in SEC play, topping the squad in points and assists in league games.
"Anna is a two-year starter and a 90-minute player," Holeman said. "With her great work ethic and fitness, Anna represents exactly what we want in a player."
Also returning is Michaela Collins at center mid. The junior from Lakeland, Fla., has started all but one game over the last two years and has four assists and four goals for her career.
Sophomore Erin Cooper could earn a starting spot on the outside. Splitting time between forward and midfielder a year ago, Cooper netted four goals and had a stretch of three straight games with a score.
Freshman Lindley Beckman is also looking to step into the starting lineup. A Kentucky All-State first team selection the past two years, the 5-foot-10 Beckman could take over Soileau's spot at center mid.
"Lindley reads the game extremely well," Holeman said. "She is a very technical player. She plays like an upperclassman and should step in and contribute right away."
Mary Katherine Ulmer was one of two in-state signees for the Rebels this season, and she will also be vying for playing time at midfielder. Ulmer was the 2001 Mississippi High School Player of the Year and a four-time All-Conference honoree at Jackson Prep.
"It's always exciting to have players from the state, and Mary Katherine was probably the best player coming out this year," Holeman said. "She had a great preseason, and we're expecting really good things from her."
Freshman Kelly Renie, a two-time Indiana state club MVP, was projected to be one of UM's top newcomers this season before tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in May. Renie had surgery for the injury in June and is expected to return by the end of September.
Freshmen Karen Hall, Leigh Barrow and Liz Holder all give Ole Miss depth in the midfield.
FORWARDS
Junior Courtney Biddle is the lone returning starter at forward, but could garner time at defender as well this season. A native of Pittsburgh, Biddle ranks 10th on the Rebels' all-time goal list with seven. She notched her first career hat trick last year vs. Northern Arizona and scored the game-winner against Georgia.
After supplying Ole Miss with offense off the bench a year ago, sophomores Amy Sample and Tiffany Weiss are primed to take over as starters this season. Sample opened SEC play last season with a bang, scoring the game-winner vs. LSU and picking up her first career hat trick two days later against Arkansas. The Crestwood, Ky., native ended the year with five goals and two assists. Despite only one goal in 18 games, Weiss played well in 2000, and appears ready to break through as a sophomore.
The Rebels' secret weapon this season could be freshman Kristal Menard. A high school and club teammate of Sample, Menard was a 2000 All-American and the Kentucky Player of the Year, and will provide Ole Miss with instant offense.
"Kristal is a pure goal scorer," Holeman said. "She does a great job of putting the ball in the back of the net. She has great moves with the ball, and could step right in and be very productive for us."
Laura Price, a freshman from Memphis, could also see time at forward for the Rebels.
