The University of Mississippi Athletics
Karen Hall Named SEC Soccer Player of the Week
9/23/2002 | Soccer
Sept. 23, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ole Miss soccer's Karen Hall has been named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week, as announced Monday by the league office.
A sophomore from Southlake, Texas, Hall led the Rebels to a perfect 2-0 road weekend, assisting on both last-minute, game-winning scores while also netting three goals. Against Southwest Missouri State on Friday, Hall came off the bench to register her first career multiple-goal performance, in addition to setting up the game-winner with 42 seconds left in regulation. She also picked up a goal and assist in a 2-1 overtime victory at Mizzou on Sunday.
Hall made the move from midfielder to forward after starter Brittney Potts went down with a torn ACL in the season's fourth match. Despite only two starts, Hall is currently second on the team in goals with four and total points with 10.
"Karen is very deserving of this honor," said Rebel head coach Steve Holeman. "She has worked very hard to reach this point. She has had to change her role on this team, and it's great to know we have a player like Karen who can step up when needed."
Hall's Player of the Week selection is the first of her career and also Ole Miss' first of the year. It marks the Rebels' eighth all-time POW pick and gives them one at least one in each of the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss received votes in the top 25 national rankings today for the first time in school history. The Rebels are fourth among teams receiving votes for the Soccer Buzz top 25 poll, while also jumping up to its highest ever regional ranking at fifth. They picked up three top-25 votes in the Soccer Times/Coaches Poll.
With a 7-0-1 record, Ole Miss is off to the best start in the program's eight-year history. The Rebels are the only undefeated left in the SEC and one of only 15 Division I teams in the country without a loss.
Also among the unbeaten is Samford, whom UM matches up with Friday at 6 p.m. CST at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. The Bulldogs, who are 8-0-1, are the Rebels' final non-conference test before beginning league play the following weekend with LSU and Arkansas in Oxford.
