The University of Mississippi Athletics
Undefeated Rebels Open SEC Soccer Play This Weekend at Home
10/3/2002 | Soccer
Oct. 3, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - The Rebel soccer team takes its unbeaten record into Southeastern Conference play this weekend with LSU Friday and Arkansas Sunday at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. Friday's bout with the Tigers is set for 7:30 p.m. CST, and Sunday's matchup with the Lady 'Backs is 1 p.m.
"It's a new season," said UM head coach Steve Holeman. "We played an outstanding non-conference schedule that has prepared us well for the SEC. We bring a lot of momentum and just need to continue to play one game at a time. The team is excited to be playing at home on such a big weekend for Ole Miss athletics, and we're looking forward to some great crowds."
With an 8-0-1 mark, Ole Miss is enjoying its best start in the program's eight-year history. The Rebels, who are ranked 28th in the nation according to Soccer Buzz, are the only undefeated team left in the SEC and one of only 11 Division I teams without a loss entering the weekend.
That short list of unbeaten clubs was reduced by one last Friday as Ole Miss handed Samford its first loss of the season, 1-0, on the strength of Kelly Renie's fifth game-winning goal. Making an early push for SEC Freshman of the Year honors, Renie ranks second in the SEC in total points (23) and goals (10), and is tied for 10th in the nation in points per game (2.56) and tied for 11th in goals per game (1.11).
LSU heads into SEC play with an 8-1 overall record and its best start since the 2000 season. Included in their victories is a Sept. 8 triumph over then 15th-ranked Florida State, 2-1, in Tallahassee. The Tigers are in the midst of a seven-match winning streak, six straight in shutouts, and have not allowed a goal in a school-record time of 540:50.
Junior forward Mandy Heitz is the nation's top goal scorer with an average of 1.89 per game (17 total). Junior midfielder Stephanie Keating is second on the squad in total points (16) and tied for the team-lead in assists (6). LSU leads the all-time series, 4-3, and the two teams have split their last four meetings.
Arkansas (4-7) has won three of their last four matches after opening the season at 1-6. With the 3-0 blanking of Drury and Wednesday's 6-0 blowout of Louisiana-Monroe, the Lady Razorbacks picked up back-to-back shutouts for the first time since October 1999.
Junior forward Julie Williford tops the team and ranks third in the SEC in goals with nine after her first multiple-goal outing of the year against ULM. She also notched game-winners against both Old Dominion and Drury.
After losing their first two meetings, Ole Miss has won five straight in the series, four of which by a 2-1 count. The Rebels took last year's encounter at Lady 'Back Field, 2-1 in double-overtime, on the strength of Lindley Beckman's game-winner. UM senior and Fayetteville native Anna Sanders boasts a goal and two assists in her career vs. Arkansas.
The Rebels are 4-3 all-time in SEC openers with a 2-1 mark when in Oxford. Ole Miss has matched up with LSU in the conference starter four times, including the last two, with each club winning twice. The Fighting Tigers succeeded in last year's contest, 3-0, in Baton Rouge.
