The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Soccer Travels To Kentucky, Vanderbilt
10/17/2002 | Soccer
Oct. 17, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - Continuing a four-game soccer road swing, Ole Miss sees their first action against SEC Eastern Division competition this weekend with matchups at Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
The Rebels take on the Wildcats Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Lexington, and follow up with the Commodores Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CST in Nashville. The UM-VU faceoff will be televised regionally by FOX Sports Net, marking Ole Miss' ninth TV appearance and second straight against the Dores.
The Rebels, who are tied with LSU for the SEC's best overall record at 10-2-1, sits third in the West standings, tied for fifth overall, after taking splits the first two weekends of league play for a 2-2 mark.
In its first weekend of SEC road play, Ole Miss achieved a 2-1 victory at Alabama Friday before falling 3-1 at Auburn on Sunday. The victory over the Tide was the Rebels' first ever in Tuscaloosa, snapping a three-game skid. Sophomore Kristal Menard connected on her first goal of the season against Alabama, 18 minutes in, and later assisted on freshman Kelly Renie's seventh game-winner at 83:27.
Renie also scored the lone UM goal against the Tigers for run her season-total to 14 and SEC-high fourth in league games.
"It's always a challenge to play on the road in this conference, especially against teams the caliber of Kentucky and Vanderbilt," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman. "Being right in the middle of the standings, we realize that every game is pivotal, and I think the players have prepared themselves mentally and physically for this stretch run."
Coming off their fifth NCAA Tournament berth in 2001, Kentucky (7-6, 2-3 SEC) has risen as high as 10th in the national rankings this year but is currently out of the polls after dropping three of its last four, including losses last weekend to Georgia, 5-1, and Tennessee, 2-0.
Despite their first ever win over Florida, the Wildcats are tied with Vanderbilt for eighth in the overall SEC standings and last in the East.
Junior midfielder Elizabeth Ramsey has been the Cats best offensive player with team-highs in goals with six and assists with five. A 2000 All-SEC pick, Ramsey needs only four points to move into fourth place on the UK career list. Kentucky has taken all five previous meetings with Ole Miss and four by a 2-1 score.
Vanderbilt (4-7, 2-3 SEC) enters as winners in two of its last three matches, including a 1-0 upset of 13th-ranked Tennessee last Friday in Knoxville. The Commodores have played only three previous home games, going 1-2 with a 2-0 conference win over South Carolina.
Junior Michelle Bruntlett connected with the net in the Gamecock triumph and boasts a team-high three goals on the year. However, no other Dore has more than two goals or four total points. In goal, junior Esther Thompson ranks top five in the SEC in goals-against average (1.20) and saves (55).
After losing the first three meetings, Ole Miss notched its first ever victory over VU, 1-0 in double overtime, last year in Oxford. Amy Sample set up Karen Hall for the game-winner at the 118:41 mark.
