The University of Mississippi Athletics
Undefeated Rebels Open Soccer Road Swing
9/11/2002 | Soccer
Sept. 11, 2002
OXFORD, Miss. - With a flawless 4-0 mark on the year, the Ole Miss soccer team can match its best start ever this weekend as the Rebels open a four-game road swing. Ole Miss travels to Wyoming Friday for a 4:30 p.m. MT match, and then to Colorado on Sunday for a 1 p.m. MT game.
The Rebels, who have outscored their opponents 11-2 through four games, are off to their finest start since 1999, when Ole Miss opened the year with five straight victories. UM's best start was 6-0 in 1998.
"We're taking it one game at a time and not looking ahead," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman. "We're just looking forward to going on the road and facing the challenge of two quality teams. We're playing really well right now, and very confident in what we're doing."
With junior Brittany Gillespie starting in goal, three of the Rebels' first four matches have resulted in shutouts, including both games last weekend. Ole Miss wrapped up its season-opening homestand with a 1-0 win over Kansas, on Karen Halls' third career game-winner, and a 5-0 knockout of Northeastern, in which Kelly Renie and Kristin Chapman each notched two-goal games.
Renie, a redshirt-freshman from Carmel, Ind., already has a pair of multiple-goal games in her first season of play and currently tops the SEC in total points with 11.
Wyoming and Colorado faced each other last Friday with the Buffaloes finished on top 1-0. The Cowgirls are 1-3 on the young season with the lone victory coming against Sacramento State in Sunday's home-opener.
UW fourth-year head coach Anne Moore welcomes back eight starters and 14 letterwinners from last year's 4-11-3 squad. Leading the charge thus far in 2002 has been sophomore Melissa Bowman and freshman Mercy Adetoye, who boast two goals apiece.
After a 3-11-2 mark a year ago, the Buffaloes have started the new season 2-1 and fell just short to Minnesota, 3-2, last time out. Senior Lindsey Galas moved from defender to forward this year and has responded with a team-high three goals, including a two-goal performance in the season-opening triumph of Fresno State.
This weekend will mark the Rebels' first ever meeting with Wyoming and Colorado.
