Rebels Fall to No. 16 Tennessee in Double-Overtime

Oct. 27, 2002

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OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss struck first but fell short in a grueling soccer battle with 16th-ranked Tennessee, as Lady Vol Kayla Lockaby netted the game-winner in double overtime for the 2-1 UT victory. Despite the loss, the Rebels (12-3-2, 4-3-1 SEC) clinch a sixth-straight berth in the SEC Tournament, which is Nov. 7-10 here in Oxford.

"Our players gave everything they had today" said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman. "We played with heart and soul, and we left it on the line. We felt that we played well enough to win this game. We felt that we deserved to win this game. I think Ole Miss proved today that when we play like that, we're as good as any top-20 team."

Coming off Friday's 3-0 victory over Georgia, Ole Miss came out of the gates quickly Sunday, taking an early lead 6:42 into the match. Ramey Rush sent a ball to Anna Sanders who immediately crossed it to Amy Sample for the successful header from five yards in front. It was the second goal of the year for the junior from Crestwood, Ky.

Sample's attempt was one of only three in the first half for the Rebels, who were outshot 9-3. Tennessee (12-5-1, 5-2-1 SEC) took advantage of one of those tries in the 23rd minute as Rhian Wilkinson ripped in a ball from the right side of the box following a diving save by UM keeper Brittany Gillespie, who tallied eight stops on the afternoon.

The physical match, which saw the two clubs combine for 34 total fouls, would remain knotted at 1-1 through the second half and first overtime period with possession switching back and forth. The Lady Vols would eventually find the go-ahead score at the 116:27 mark, when Wilkinson fed Lockaby who connected with the top of the net from 16 yards away.

"Tennessee has a lot of individual talent, but we felt that we played better as a team today," Holeman said. "If you look at the stats, it doesn't tell the story of the game. They ended up with more shots on goal, but we had a lot more dangerous opportunities.

"Our entire team played awesome. We possessed the ball better than we ever have. Our defense played solid, and we couldn't have asked for a better performance."

The shot total ended at 21-11 in favor of Tennessee, who takes over the SEC Eastern Division lead and second to Auburn in the overall standings.

Eliminated from Division title contention, Ole Miss remains second in the West standings and fourth in the tournament picture entering the SEC-finale with Mississippi State, Friday at 2 p.m. CST in Starkville. The Rebels are the only Western Division team to have earned a conference tourney berth each of the last six seasons.

 #16 Tennessee (12-5-1, 5-2-1 SEC) vs. Ole Miss (12-3-2, 4-3-1 SEC) Date: Oct 28, 2002  Attendance: 387 Weather: Mostly Cloudy and cool ------------------------------------------------ Tennessee................      1  0  0  1 -  2 Ole Miss...................    1  0  0  0 -  1
 SCORING SUMMARY:  1.   6:42 UM Amy Sample (2) (Ramey Rush;Anna Sanders) - Header from five yards out  2.  22:14 UT Rhian Wilkinson (7) (Keeley Dowling) - Right front after GK diving save.  3. 116:27 UT Kayla Lockaby (7) (Rhian Wilkinson) - 16 yards front right
 Shots: Tennessee 21, Ole Miss 11 Saves: Tennessee 3 (Ellen Dean 3), Ole Miss 9 (Brittany Gillespie 8; TEAM 1)

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Amy Sample

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