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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Continue Soccer Homestand with LSU, Arkansas
9/30/2004 | Soccer
Sept. 30, 2004
| Rebel Radio Broadcast | OleMissSports.tv Webcast
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss faces its first SEC Western Division action this weekend, as the Rebel soccer team wraps up its four-game homestand with LSU and Arkansas.
Friday's bout with the Tigers is set for 7 p.m. CT, and the first 200 fans through the gates will receive a free, red Ole Miss soccer t-shirt on "Make the Tigers See Red" night. The Rebels' Sunday encounter with Arkansas is at 1 p.m.
Ole Miss (5-5, 1-1 SEC) opened conference play last weekend with a split, knocking off Georgia 3-1 and falling short to No. 16 Tennessee 2-1. The Rebels exploded on the Bulldogs for three first-half goals, including two in the opening 5:01. Kelly Renie notched two assists in the match, while Brittney Potts connected on her team-high seventh goal of the year.
It was UT that struck early on Sunday, scoring off the opening kickoff in 10 seconds. Defender Lyndsey Williams headed in her second career goal to tie the match at the half, but the Lady Vols would find the equalizer less than two minutes into the second stanza.
"I think we played very well," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman. "We went into the weekend with a lot of confidence and came out with a lot. That was one of the toughest weekends on the schedule, and we know it will prepare us for the rest of the season."
LSU (5-5, 0-2 SEC) suffered a home sweep in its first SEC weekend, losing 2-0 to Kentucky and 2-1 to Vanderbilt in double-overtime. After a 4-0 start, the Fighting Tigers have dropped five of their last six.
Senior Artie Brown provided the LSU score against the Commodores, and the All-SEC forward is currently tied with Potts for second in the SEC in goals with seven. With 33 career goals, Brown is only three away from tying the LSU career mark.
The Tigers hold a slim 5-4 advantage over the Rebels in the all-time series, and the rivals have split their four meetings in Oxford. Off a two-goal performance by Hillary Beckman, Ole Miss dominated 3-0 in last year's meeting in Baton Rouge.
"LSU is a very physical team," Holeman said. "They are tough defensively and will make it difficult for us to create opportunities. We will have to play our best."
For the first time since 1995, Arkansas (5-4-1, 1-0-1 SEC) kicked off league play with an undefeated weekend, holding off Vanderbilt 2-1 and tying Kentucky 1-1. The Lady Razorbacks are 3-1-1 in their last five.
Sarah Gwisdala is the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Week after netting the game-winner against the Dores and the game-tying score vs. the Wildcats. The freshman midfielder tops the Lady `Backs with six goals.
"Arkansas is playing some of their best soccer," said Holeman. "They are very organized defensively, and will certainly be motivated. We will need to turn around and put together back-to-back great games if we expect to win."
Ole Miss is riding a seven-game win streak over Arkansas, and enjoys a 7-2 all-time edge. The Rebels rolled past the Backs 4-1 a year ago in Fayetteville.
Ole Miss will see a familiar face on the opposing bench Sunday, as former Rebel midfielder Anna Sanders is in her first season as an Arkansas assistant coach. The Fayetteville native was a four-year starter and two-time team captain for Ole Miss 1999-2002. Sanders ranks fourth on the Rebel career assist chart.