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The University of Mississippi Athletics
No. 23 Rebels Wrap Up Regular Season With Mississippi State
10/27/2005 | Soccer
Oct. 27, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - The SEC Western Division Champion No. 23 Ole Miss soccer team (14-3-1, 8-1-1 SEC) will look to tie the school record of 15 wins in a season when it takes on arch-rival Mississippi State (3-11-3, 2-8 SEC) at 7 p.m. at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium in the final regular season match.
With a win and a Tennessee loss to Georgia, the Rebels could secure the program's first SEC overall championship. If Georgia and Tennessee tie, the Rebels and Lady Vols would be named co-champions, and Tennessee would receive the SEC Tournament's No. 1 seed based on head-to-head competition.
"This is always a big game for us," said head coach Steve Holeman. "We have to focus on what we can control, and that's how we play against Mississippi State. Every coach at Ole Miss and at Mississippi State can get motivated for this one because it is for the Magnolia Cup and state bragging rights. I am sure State will be motivated. It would be a huge win for them to come and beat us on our home field.
"When we beat Georgia to start our SEC season, I knew we had just beaten one of the best teams in the conference. That game will be a great game, and if Georgia wins, we will not be upset. We just have to prepare for our game like any other and be at our best to win."
Friday will also be the Rebels' Senior Night, as the team and fans will celebrate seniors Hillary Beckman and Kelly Renie for their contribution to the Ole Miss program. In addition, the first 250 fans in the game will receive a "Senior Salute" t-shirt, compliments of Rebel Sports Marketing.
"Hillary is a player that has worked very hard to achieve the kind of success she has had," Holeman said. "Because of her hard work and all that she's done for the program, she was admired and respected enough by her teammates for them to elect her team captain. She has shown some great leadership qualities on and off the field this year.
"Kelly will go down in history as one of the top forwards to ever play at Ole Miss. She is the only Ole Miss player to achieve SEC Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-America. She has been dangerous for us throughout her career."
The 2005 campaign has already been a record-setting one for Ole Miss. The team has captured its third SEC Western Division title (1999 and 2000) and notched a school-record seven straight wins in conference play along the way.
The Rebel defense has been dominant, collecting an SEC-record eight shutouts in league play and boasting an SEC-best mark of two goals allowed against conference opponents. The team's 12 total shutouts this season is one behind Vanderbilt's SEC record 13.
Leading the record-setting charge are sophomore goalkeepers Ann Shelton and Megan Vickery and a back line anchored by junior team captain Lyndsey Williams. Shelton's .21 goals against average mark is second in the NCAA and leads the SEC. On her current pace, she would shatter the Ole Miss record of .76 set by Brittany Gillespie in 2003. Vickery is fourth in the league with a .67 mark as the two keepers have split time in goal this season. Williams has played a key role as center back for the defense that has allowed an SEC-low eight goals all season. She was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week for her performance against Alabama and Auburn in week seven.
On the offensive front, a balanced Rebel attack is led by midfielders Jennifer Hance and Chrissy Strini. The freshman and sophomore each have tallied 17 points. Hance leads the team with seven goals, including an SEC-best five game-winners. Strini has served up a team-best seven assists, which ties her for the conference lead.
Not to be outdone, sophomore forward/midfielder Amy Gill has three goals and four assists on the year, but none bigger than her game-winning goal with just over two minutes left in regulation to beat No. 11 Florida and secure the Rebels' first-ever victory over the Gators. For her play that week, Gill was honored as SEC Offensive Player of the Week and was named to all three national teams of the week put out by Soccer America, Soccer Buzz, and Top Drawer Soccer.
Ole Miss will face a tough Mississippi State squad on Friday, despite a poor record this season. The Lady Bulldogs have collected three wins, including a pair of SEC victories over Alabama and South Carolina, and three ties, while losing a handful of close matches. They are led by senior forward Betty Ann Casey, who has a team-high four goals and three assists for 11 points.
The State squad finished second in the West last year and beat Ole Miss 1-0 in Starkville in their last meeting after the two teams tied in 2003. Ole Miss holds a 5-4-2 edge in the all-time series.
Upon completion of the regular season, the Rebels will prepare for a trip to the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. Nov. 3-6. Pending Friday's results, the Rebels will be somewhere among the top four seeds. Last year, Ole Miss made the Tournament Semifinals for the third time in four years by virtue of defeating No. 9 and tournament host Auburn 3-0 in the first round of play.