.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Continue SEC Soccer Play at LSU, Arkansas
10/9/2003 | Soccer
Oct. 9, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - Coming off a weekend split to open SEC play, the Ole Miss soccer team continues a four-game road swing at LSU and Arkansas this weekend. The Rebels face the Fighting Tigers Friday at 7 p.m. CT and the Lady Razorbacks Sunday at 1 p.m.
With one weekend of the conference schedule complete, Ole Miss is tied for the Western Division lead with a 1-1 league record, 10-2 overall. The Rebels opened with a 2-1 loss at Georgia on Friday, but followed up with a 1-0 shutout of Tennessee.
Senior goalkeeper Brittany Gillespie collected 10 saves, the second-highest single-game total of her career, in the blanking of the Lady Vols. It marked the Rebels' eighth shutout of the year, which ties the school's season record.
Senior midfielder Amy Sample assisted on both Ole Miss goals over the weekend, and has five assists in her last three games. The beneficiary of Sample's effort against UT was freshman midfielder Ashley Ferree, who netted her sixth goal of the season, tied for second-most on the squad.
"This is key weekend in the SEC West standings," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman. "Our matches with both LSU and Arkansas are always battles, and we know this year will be no different. We showed a lot of character in the win over Tennessee, and hopefully we can carry that momentum into this weekend."
LSU (7-3-1, 0-2 SEC) was held scoreless last weekend in losses at Kentucky, 2-0, and Vanderbilt, 1-0. However, prior to the rough SEC start, the Tigers blazed through their non-conference slate with five shutouts and a near-upset at No. 11 Texas, falling 4-3 in overtime.
LSU has outscored its opponents 36-10 this season, and freshman forward Stacy Bishop has guided the effort with 10 goals, second-most in the league. All-SEC junior forward Artie Brown is close behind with nine scores.
The Tigers hold a 5-3 all-time series edge with the Rebels and have taken the last two matches, including a 2-1 decision last year in Oxford.
While LSU sits in the SEC West cellar, Arkansas (5-4-2, 1-1 SEC) shares the division lead with Ole Miss and Mississippi State after kicking off conference play with a 2-0 victory at Vanderbilt before coming up short at Kentucky 3-2.
The Lady Backs have endured six straight losing seasons, but are above .500 after 11 matches, thanks in large part to the offense of Julie Williford. The senior forward registered both goals in the VU win and boasts nine on the season.
The Rebels have won six straight games against Arkansas, and enjoy a 6-2 record in the all-time series. Six of the Ole Miss-Arkansas meetings have ended in a 2-1 score, including last year's Rebel triumph in Oxford.