The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Soccer Makes Home Debut
9/25/2001 | Soccer
Sept. 25, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - After opening the year with seven straight games away from Oxford, the Ole Miss soccer team is finally home this week for three games at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. The Rebels host Alabama A&M Wednesday at 7 p.m. CST in the 2001 home-opener.
Action continues Friday with Ole Miss facing UTEP at 7 p.m. On Sunday, the Rebels take on Duquesne at noon, rather than the originally scheduled time of 1 p.m.
"We're excited about playing at home," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman. "The girls have gone through a very difficult start being on the road for the first seven games. All the diversity we've faced is going to prepare us for the rest of the season.
"We're expecting good crowds this week. I think there are a lot of people that have wanted to see us, who haven't had the chance. They're going to see a quality Ole Miss soccer team."
The Rebels (3-4) are coming off a split of two matches last weekend in Arizona. On Friday night, sophomore defender Erin Edmundson connected on her first career goal, but it was not enough as Ole Miss fell short at Arizona State, 3-1.
Another first-time scorer provided the game-winner on Sunday. Freshman forward Kristal Menard netted her first goal from six yards away with less than three minutes remaining to give the Rebels a 1-0 win at Northern Arizona. Sophomore Erin Cooper drove in from the left side and set up Menard in front of the goal at the 87:49 mark to break the scoreless game.
Ole Miss' home-opener was to be played Sept. 14 against Jacksonville State, however the game was canceled due to the tragic events suffered by our nation on Sept. 11. The Rebels are 5-1 all-time in home-openers and posted a 7-1 mark last year at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. UM has never previously matched up with any of this week's opponents.
Alabama A&M skids into Oxford in search of its first win of the year. Despite returning 15 of 16 letterwinners from a year ago, the Bulldogs enter with an 0-4 mark and coming off a 6-0 loss to Murray State on Sunday. A&M, who has been outscored 13-2 this season, is beginning a stretch of three straight SEC opponents, with Alabama and LSU this weekend.
UTEP (2-3) is facing its fourth consecutive road game and fresh off a 5-1 domination of New Mexico. Junior midfielder Holly Cohen, a late transfer from Arizona State, has stepped right into action for the Miners, leading the team in goals with three and shots with 19. The El Paso native has scored both UTEP game-winners this season.
Despite 30 saves in five games by junior goalkeeper Kristin Scharphorn, Duquesne is off to a 1-3-1 start, with the lone victory coming in a 2-1 overtime affair with Boise State. A bright spot for the Dukes has been freshman midfielder Katie Schwager, who has two goals and an assist to top the squad in total points.
