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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Team Cracks Top-25 Rankings for First Time
9/8/2003 | Soccer
Sept. 8, 2003
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss entered the top-25 national soccer rankings Monday for the first time in school history. The Rebels (4-0) are tied for 25th in the latest poll by Soccer Buzz magazine.
Ole Miss had been among the teams receiving votes last week and in the preseason ranking. The Rebels' previous high was 26th (first among vote getters) in the NSCAA poll on Nov. 4, 2002.
Ole Miss is the first Division I team from the state of Mississippi to crack the top 25.
"We've worked hard to take the program to national prominence," said Rebel head coach Steve Holeman. "We're excited but remain humbled. We need to prove that we deserve this ranking. Teams will coming after us even harder, but I think we're ready for the challenge."
Ole Miss also achieved a milestone in the regional rankings this week, moving up to fourth in the Buzz Central Region poll.
Coming off their first NCAA Tournament berth a year ago, the Rebels have yet to allow a goal through four matches of the young season and have outscored their opponents 20-0. Freshman Ashley Ferree has posted a goal in each of her first four collegiate matches and tops the team in goals (4) and points (9).
Ole Miss closes out the season-opening, six-game homestand this weekend with bouts against Wyoming (2-1), Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT, and Missouri (4-0), Sunday at 1 p.m. The Mizzou faceoff will mark a battle of regional powers, as the Tigers sit two spots behind the Rebels at sixth in the Buzz Central Region rankings. Missouri is also 25th in the NSCAA national poll.
Friday will be Dorm Night at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, and Sunday will be Oxford Youth Soccer Day. Both matches will be broadcast on Rebel Radio 92.1 FM and www.OleMissSports.com, and live streaming video will also be available over the internet at www.OleMissSports.tv.
