The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
1-0-0
Tennessee Tech
0-1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Tech | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ole Miss | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Rebel Soccer Wins Season Debut 2-1
8/26/2005 | Soccer
Aug. 26, 2005
Final Stats
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss soccer team opened the 2005 season in style Friday night with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in front of 797 fans at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.
After giving up the first goal of the game, a deep shot over the keeper's head off a free kick by Tennessee Tech's Hannah Bromley at the 21:52 mark in the first half, the Rebels dominated the remaining portion of the match, limiting the Golden Eagles' number of touches in scoring territory.
Ole Miss' first goal of the season would come 36 minutes into the match from the right foot of freshman Amanda Verkin from 10 yards out off a pretty pass from junior Brittney Potts.
With the score tied 1-1 at the half, the Rebels came out in the second period and controlled the battle for possession throughout the half. After several missed opportunities, the Rebels cashed in at the 62:46 mark with a header into the far corner by sophomore Chrissy Strini, marking the third goal of her young career. The goal was double-assisted by sophomore Amy Gill and senior Hillary Beckman.
"We got off to a slow start," said Ole Miss head coach Steve Holeman, who moved to 8-3 in season openers as the Rebel head coach. "But once we got the first-game jitters out of the way we really started to adapt to our game and really started to find ways through their defense."
Despite the one-goal game, Ole Miss finished with 23 shot attempts to the Golden Eagles' four.
"One thing we didn't do well was finish," Holeman added. "We had 23 shots and just so many great opportunities to score. We hit the crossbar probably three or four times. Other than that I thought we played extremely well. We played hard defensively and created many opportunities. We just have to finish them."
Sophomore Rebel goalkeeper Megan Vickery earned the victory after subbing for starting sophomore Ann Shelton at halftime. Vickery finished with one save, the first of her career, while Shelton saved a goal and surrendered the only Tech score.
"We actually made the decision (to play each goalkeeper a half of the match) before the game started. We have two keepers that are very competitive and they've been training well all preseason. Really it was kind of a tossup, so we gave Ann Shelton the start and she played well. We also feel very comfortable with Megan Vickery stepping in, and she did a great job preserving the win."
Overall, Tennessee Tech recorded seven saves to Ole Miss' two, while the Rebels held the corner kick edge 8-2, and the teams tied in fouls with seven.
The victory was also the first for the Rebels' 10 newcomers, who impressed Holeman in their first regular-season collegiate match. "Our freshmen did very well their first time out," Holeman said. "Amanda Verkin scored our first goal. It was great for her. She steps on the field and five minutes later she puts the ball in the net. It really started to show in the second half the kind of depth we had. I think we started to wear them down and because of that, in the second half, they only got one shot at the very end, but that was it. We just created a lot of opportunities."
The Rebels return to the playing field on Sunday afternoon in a 1 p.m. match-up with Big 12 member Iowa State as part of the Cyclones' tour through the state of Mississippi. The first 100 students into the gates will receive insulated six-pack coolers courtesy of Rebel Marketing.
Team Stats
BROMLEY, Hannah (1)
long kick to upper left post
21:52
Amanda Verkin (1)
Assisted By: Brittney Potts
10-yarder to upper right corner from Pot
36:02
Chrissy Strini (1)
Assisted By: Hillary Beckman , Amy Gill
header to the right corner around the go
62:46
