The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Soccer 2003 Outlook
8/27/2003 | Soccer
Aug. 27, 2003
The 2002 season was certainly a special one for Ole Miss soccer. After being denied previous times, the Rebels achieved their greatest goal and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament berth. It was the first appearance in "The Big Dance" for a Division I school from the state of Mississippi.
Ole Miss ended the campaign with a 13-5-2 mark, setting a UM record for winning percentage. Other milestones included finishing third-place overall in the Southeastern Conference and reaching as high as 26th in the national rankings and fifth in the Central Region poll.
So what do head coach Steve Holeman and his Rebels do for an encore?
"It's time to take the next step," said Holeman, the only coach in the history of the program. "Anything less than another NCAA appearance would be a disappointment to the team, our fans and those that follow Ole Miss soccer.
"Our goals this year are to do well enough in the regular season to host an NCAA Regional, AND to advance to the Sweet 16."
A strong regular season would also propel Holeman to career coaching victory No. 100, making him only the third person to reach the century mark in SEC coaching wins. Holeman boasts a 92-73-10 mark, and is one of the deans of SEC soccer with nine years in the league, second only to Warren Lipka's 12 seasons at Kentucky.
While last year's Rebel squad was his most accomplished, Holeman is convinced that the latest edition of his team could be the best yet.
"The experience and success we went through a year ago will make us a better program this fall," Holeman said. "Having only lost two starters, we return a team with more depth and much more experience."
Among the nine returning starters and 17 letterwinners are three All-SEC players in Kristal Menard, Kelly Renie and Amy Sample. With that core in place, the 2003 postseason could be a Sweet one for the Rebels, who received respect in the preseason. Soccer Buzz magazine had Ole Miss receiving votes for its top-25 national poll and ranked UM fifth in the Central Region. In the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Rebels were picked second in the Western Division, trailing Auburn by just three points.
GOALKEEPERS
In goal, Ole Miss is equipped with a two-time team captain and the school's all-time leader in goals-against average. Senior Brittany Gillespie is coming off one of the finest seasons ever by a UM keeper, establishing team bests for shutouts (7.5), goalkeeper victories (13) and goals-against average (1.10). The Modesto, Calif., native was also among the top five in the SEC statistically last year.
However, despite those tremendous results, Gillespie faces some stiff competition for her starting spot in a hot rookie and a hard-working veteran.
"Goalkeeping is an area of depth," Holeman said. "We have two seniors capable of starting, and Ann Shelton is one of our top newcomers. It's going to be very competitive, but it will also be tough to take Britt's spot. She finished last fall playing her best, and she worked hard in the offseason."
Shelton was among the South's top youth keepers last year. The Tullahoma, Tenn., freshman was her state's Gatorade Player of the Year and served in goal for the Region III ODP squad. Shelton spent much of the preseason recovering from shoulder surgery.
Heather Lea Hopson brings five years of experience in the Red and Blue. The senior from Tupelo, Miss., has appeared in six games over her UM career and has yet to allow a goal.
DEFENDERS
Last year's UM defense shattered the record book with new season lows for points and goals allowed. Unfortunately, two of the three defenders that keyed that charge are missing. Three-time All-SEC pick Kristin Chapman graduated, and 2002 defensive MVP Lyndsey Williams tore her ACL in June and is expected to miss the entire season.
"With Lyndsey injured and Chapman gone, we only have one starter returning," Holeman said. "It will be an excellent opportunity for other returnees and newcomers to step into starting roles."
The lone returning starter is junior Ramey Rush from Meridian, Miss. She has started every game the last two years and has been one of the club's most consistent players.
"Ramey is one of our unsung heroes," Holeman said. "She plays tough day in and day out, and has gotten better each year. She hasn't always received the credit she deserves, but she always gives everything she has."
Injuries kept junior Caitlyn Gibson out of the Ole Miss lineup most of her debut season in Oxford. The transfer from Tulane saw action over the final seven games and played well down the stretch run. Gibson, a native of Plano, Texas, is expected to be a major contributor for the Rebels this season in back.
Also primed to step into the starting lineup is fifth-year Rebel Courtney Biddle, who redshirted last year with injury. After three successful seasons at forward, Biddle moved to the defense last season, but tore her her ACL during the first week of preseason. Biddle ranks top 10 on the UM career charts in goals and assists.
A pair of freshmen from the Lone Star state are also making strong bids for starting spots. Megan Miles was a three-year starter for Soar '85, which is one of the top club teams in the Dallas area, and Elise Karlowicz was a member of the All-Greater Houston team as a senior a year ago.
For experience in back, Ole Miss need look no further than senior Erin Edmundson, who boasts 29 career starts at defender.
MIDFIELDERS
Ole Miss' greatest strength continues to be the midfield and the Kentucky trio of Kristal Menard, Amy Sample and Lindley Beckman.
All Menard did in 2003 was earn first team All-SEC and All-Region honors, lead the Rebels in assists with six and garner Team MVP status from her teammates. She enters her junior season with possible All-American honors in sight as one of the nation's top center mids.
"Kristal is one of the best players in the country," Holeman said. "She plays at a different level than most players we face. She is definitely one of the keys to our success this year."
Sample's leadership and work ethic help drive the Rebel ship. The senior is a two-time team captain and a 2002 All-SEC honorable mention choice. Sample also ranks ninth on the UM career assist list with eight.
"Any coach would love to have an Amy Sample," Holeman said. "She is one of our senior leaders and the workhorse of our team. When she is on, she is unstoppable. She finished last season as one of the SEC's best attacking center mids, and she has been training extremely hard."
Coming off an outstanding spring season, Beckman also brings All-SEC potential to the midfield. The 5-10 junior has started all but one game of her Ole Miss career and boasts five career assists, third among active Rebels. Beckman has six career goals, including an overtime game-winner vs. Arkansas in 2001.
Depending on the squad's formation, the Rebels have a host of players that could be battling for starting nods in the midfield. A sophomore from Memphis, Megan Mattei comes to Oxford after spending the 2002-03 season with West Virginia, which finished No. 12 in the national rankings. Mattei, who was one of the South's top recruits a year ago, missed the preseason with an injured lower leg, but should be an impact player with her likely return in September. Fellow newcomer Kaela Kelly brings explosive talent and could also make immediate contributions. The freshman from Hesperia, Calif., was a five-year member of the Cal South ODP team, which took first place at nationals.
Junior Leigh Barrow and sophomore Hillary Beckman started 13 and six games, respectively, last year at outside midfielder, and that duo will be contending for that spot again in 2003. Each recorded three assists, and Barrow netted her first career goal against Mississippi State.
Versatile sophomore Megan Morton and talented freshmen Ashley Ferree and Mary Robinson will also vie for playing time at midfielder. Ferree was the 2002 Wendy's High School Heisman winner for Tennessee. Anna McVey, an athletic freshman from Jackson, Miss., would have also played into the midfield mix, but tore her right ACL during the preseason and is expected to miss the upcoming campaign.
FORWARDS
ACL injuries have certainly plagued the Ole Miss program over the last three years and no where worse than at forward. Kelly Renie missed her true freshman season in 2001, and Brittney Potts endured the same situation a year ago after rupturing her ligament in the third game of 2002. That dynamic tandem is finally healthy at the same time and will team with Karen Hall to form a potent scoring attack up front.
"We might have the best trio of goal-scorers in the league," Holeman said. "Kelly brings speed, Karen is crafty and Brittney is a combination of both."
Renie's debut season in the Red and Blue was one of the finest in school history. Last year, she scored 18 goals, including nine game-winners, and ranked 17th in the nation in goals per game (0.90). The Carmel, Ind., native piled up the accolades with SEC Freshman of the Year, Freshman All-America, All-SEC first team and All-Region second team honors, and her sophomore effort might be even bigger.
"Kelly is a better player now than she was last year," Holeman said. "Kelly is a pure goal scorer. With her on the field, there is a good chance we will score. And every coach we play against will be trying to stop her."
Potts' early-season injury thrust Hall into a new position, where she thrived. The junior from Southlake, Texas, started the final 13 games at forward and finished the season second in goals (6), assists (5) and points (17). Hall connected on one game-winner and assisted on two others, and was named the SEC Player of the Week on Sept. 23
Potts, a two-time prep All-American from Franklin, Tenn., was off to an exciting start before her season's abrupt end. The redshirt-freshman posted both goals in the Rebel's preseason victory over Tulsa, and had a goal and assist in her first two regular-season games. Potts returned to the club last spring and ranked third on the team in goals with seven.
Freshman Emily Brown provides Ole Miss with yet another scoring threat. The Memphis native was a two-time All-Metro pick and a three-year player for Tennessee ODP.
The Rebels have some experienced depth at forward in junior Laura Price and sophomore Ashley Hanne, while freshmen Sammi Gould and Bernadette Bartlett carry outstanding high school credentials.
