Rebel Soccer Team Defeats Alabama 3-0

Oct. 7, 2005

Final Stats

OXFORD, Miss. - Led by two goals from sophomore Chrissy Strini, the Ole Miss offense exploded for three scores and the defense pitched its third straight shutout in a 3-0 win for the Rebels (10-3-0, 4-1-0 SEC) over Alabama (6-4-2, 0-3-2 SEC) Friday night in front of 779 fans at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.

With the win, the Rebels remain in first place in the SEC West.

The Rebels' three goals marked the first time they had scored more than once since conference play began two weekends ago. The three scores tied a season high which the Rebels have accomplished three times now.

The defense led the way, though, for the Rebels, recording the eighth shutout of the year and the fourth shutout in five Southeastern Conference matches. Ole Miss dominated possession for most of the match and out-shot the Crimson Tide 16-4.

The sophomore goalkeeper tandem of Megan Vickery and Ann Shelton combined for their shutout together, but only had to save one Alabama shot on goal.

"It was great to be back home, especially with a crowd like this that's rowdy and behind us all the way," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman, who has the Rebels off to their best conference start since they were 4-1 in 2003. "As far as the game goes, we've been working on our possession a lot recently - ever since our game against Tennessee when we felt we weren't playing our best. Three goals says a lot about how hard we worked. We got in a good rhythm against some very good pressure from Alabama, so obviously we did well."

Strini got the Rebels off to a good start when she scored on a breakaway from the left corner of the box and hit the back of the net at the 11:46 mark. Freshman Austin Brown got the assist, her first of the year.

Alabama fouled an Ole Miss player in the box later in the first half to set up a penalty kick, which Strini knocked into the upper left corner of the net to give Ole Miss a 2-0 advantage in the 25th minute.

The two goals were Strini's fourth and fifth of the year, which now ties her with freshman Jennifer Hance for the team lead.

"It was the game of the season for (Strini)," Holeman said. "She was at her best. Even if she hadn't scored two goals, it still would have been one of her best games. She played great with the ball on offense and then was able to get back and help at midfield. She just played an all-around great game, and she deserved those two goals."

Alabama came out sharper in the second half and traded possessions with the Rebels equally for a while, but Ole Miss again took the upper-hand when freshman Amy Bayles scored her second goal of the season on a breakaway on the right side spurred by an Amy Gill assist in the 85th minute.

With the score 3-0, the Rebels managed to hold possession and run out the clock through the rest of the match.

The Rebels out-shot the Crimson Tide 6-1 in the first period and 10-3 in the second, while fouls and corner kicks were even at 11 and six, respectively.

Alabama keepers Kara Gudmens and Karen Lansden combined for three goals allowed and six saves.

Ole Miss will return to action on Sunday in Oxford when they face the SEC West's second-place Auburn Tigers. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m., with the first 250 fans at the game receiving a complimentary stadium cushion. Those that bring their ticket stub from Saturday's homecoming game versus The Citadel will receive $2 off the price of admission.

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Team Stats

Chrissy Strini

Amy Bayles

Austin Brown

Amy Gill

The University of Mississippi Athletics