The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Open Soccer Season with Ole Miss Invitational
8/28/2002 | Soccer
Aug. 28, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - The Rebels begin their much-anticipated 2002 soccer season this weekend as part of the four-team Ole Miss Invitational. Marshall, Georgia State and Southern Miss will be joining the Rebels Friday and Sunday at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium in Oxford.
Southern and Georgia State open the tournament Friday at 4:30 p.m. CST, followed by Ole Miss and Marshall at 7. USM faces off with Marshall at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, while the Rebels take on GSU at 1 p.m.
Coming off their sixth straight season with a .500 or better record, Ole Miss begins year 2002 by hosting its first fall tournament in three years. The Rebels have won three straight regular-season tournaments, including the UAB Nike Classic last year in Birmingham, Ala.
Ole Miss dominated Tulsa, 2-0, Saturday at home in preseason competition. Freshman Brittney Potts, the 2001 Tennessee High School Player of the Year from Franklin, came off the bench to net both UM goals in her first collegiate competition.
"We had an outstanding preseason," said Rebel head coach Steve Holeman, who has been with the program since its inception in 1995. "The goals for this season are an SEC West title and an NCAA Tournament berth. The players have done an excellent job of preparing themselves mentally and physically, and I think we're ready.
"All three tournament teams are very talented. We're looking forward to some great soccer matches and some big crowds this weekend."
Ole Miss finished the 2001 campaign with a 10-10-1 mark, and advanced to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. The Rebels became the only SEC Western Division squad to have earned a conference tournament berth the past five years, and is the West's winningest team over that stretch.
Marshall is coming off the best season in the program's four years of existence. The Thundering Herd returns nine starters from last year's 11-7-1 squad, and lost to West Virginia, 3-0, in the their lone exhibition match of the preseason.
Georgia State recorded a 9-12-1 mark in 2001 but brings back 17 of 21 letterwinners including All-Atlantic Sun first teamer Ashley Edwards. The senior forward notched a team-high 12 goals a year ago.
After a 9-7 campaign last year, Southern Miss was tabbed 12th in the Conference USA preseason coaches' poll, despite the services of senior forward Tricia Wiles. Last season, the Germantown, Tenn., native led the Lady Eagles in a number of offensive categories, including goals (11) and total points (25).
OLE MISS INVITATIONAL - Oxford, Miss. (Ole Miss Soccer Stadium)
Friday, Aug. 30Southern Miss vs. Georgia State, 4:30 p.m.Ole Miss vs. Marshall, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 1Southern Miss vs. Marshall, 10:30 a.m.Ole Miss vs. Georgia State, 1 p.m.
