The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Reigns in Home Soccer Tournament
4/15/2003 | Soccer
April 15, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - Saturday's Ole Miss 7-Aside Soccer Tournament was dominated by the host Rebels, as their two squads combined for an 8-0 record and a 45-8 goal differential. The two Ole Miss teams met in the finals of the eighth-annual event and went directly to a penalty kick shootout, where the Red team battled past the Blue team, 4-3.
Coached by Rebel assistant Lori Spitler, the Red squad notched victories over Jackson Futbol Club, 6-0; Arkansas State, 2-0; Arkansas-Little Rock, 6-1; and Tulane, 6-2, in the tournament semi-finals.
Red's top weapon was Kelly Renie, who finished as the tourney's top goal-scorer with eight, including a three-goal effort against UALR. Lindley Beckman and Megan Morton totaled three goals apiece, while Kathryn White and Ramey Rush each scored twice. After missing the fall with a torn ACL, Courtney Biddle picked up her first goal in competitive action since last spring, while Amy Sample also chipped in with a score.
"We had a very scrappy team," said Spitler, who is in her third year with the program. "We subbed on a constant rotation, which really benefitted the fast pace of the girls but made it a little hard to get into a possession rhythm. Everyone pulled together, played different positions, and just had fun with it all. Every girl on the team made an impact when they were on the field, and gave it all they had."
The Blue team was under the direction of Ole Miss first-year assistant Derek Greene and turned in wins against Team Boca, 8-3; Memphis, 4-0; Louisiana-Monroe, 8-1; and Germantown Fury '86, 5-2, in the semis.
The Blue's balanced attack was led by Kristal Menard's seven scores off three multiple-goal matches. She also connected twice off the game's opening kickoff. Brittney Potts added six goals followed by Ashley Hanne and Karen Hall with four each. Hillary Beckman tallied two scores, while Lisa Mestayer and Lyndsey Williams netted one goal apiece.
"This is always a very exciting weekend for us," Greene said. "It is a chance to bring in some outside competition and play in an environment that we do not normally see. There is always a high number of goals scored in 7-aside event, and it creates a lot of energy and enthusiasm from both players and fans."
Despite his team falling on the losing end in the finals, Greene noted the PK shootout to be the right move, health-wise, for the Rebel players.
"We talked as a staff about whether or not to play each other once both of our teams advanced to the finals," he said. "The day had been very long, and I know that our players were getting tired. We decided that rather than risking injury in a fatigued final that we would go straight to a shootout. I think the girls wanted to decide it that way as well, so as a staff we decided that would be our best option."
Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman described the event as an excellent experience for all those involved, including his own staff.
"I felt the weekend was an overwhelming success," Holeman said. "The competition was solid, and was definitely beneficial to our entire team.
"It was also a great opportunity for my assistants to manage their own squads. Both teams responded well and did a great job of executing the game plan."
The Rebels close out the spring against SEC West rival Alabama, Apr. 26 in Orange Beach, Ala. Ole Miss boasts a 6-1 mark in their offseason matches.
