Soccer Split Weekend Features Trip To Vanderbilt, Senior Day

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OXFORD, Miss. The SEC West-leading Ole Miss soccer team (7-5-4, 3-1-4 SEC) hits the stretch run of its regular season this weekend with a road match at Vanderbilt on Friday at 7 p.m., followed by Sunday’s regular-season home finale at 1 p.m. against Kentucky, at which the five Rebel seniors will be honored.

The Rebels are in the thick of a close conference race for positioning in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, which will be held Nov. 2-5 in Orange Beach, Ala.

Ole Miss currently sits in fifth place in the overall league standings, but just one point behind South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt, who are in a tie for second behind Florida. The race is equally as close behind the Rebels, as Ole Miss is only three points ahead of the teams that are tied for eighth. The top eight squads at season’s end advance to the tournament.

“In all the years I’ve been in the SEC, this is the tightest conference race ever,” said Rebel head coach Steve Holeman, who is in his 12^th year at Ole Miss and 13^th overall as a head coach in the SEC. “It will come down to the final weekend. Right now, only five points separate second from 10^th place. We are competing for an SEC West title, but also for a spot in the tournament. Each game is crucial, and each point is valuable.”

The Rebels played the third and fourth games of their five-game road swing this past weekend, dropping a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to No. 17 Florida in overtime before tying South Carolina 0-0. The loss on Friday snapped Ole Miss’ league-best 15-match unbeaten streak in regular-season conference play.

A steady defense has been the key to Ole Miss’ success in the conference season. The Rebels have allowed the fewest goals in SEC play (3) and rank first in goals-against average (0.34), while tied for first with five shutouts against league foes.

Vanderbilt (8-3-5, 4-2-2 SEC) sits in a three-way tie for second in the overall league standings and one point ahead of Ole Miss. The Commodores played in a pair of overtime matches this past weekend, defeating Georgia 2-1 before losing to No. 11 Tennessee 2-1. Lea Lafield tops the squad with six goals and 14 points, while 2005 SEC Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Griffin patrols the posts, as she ranks tied for third in the SEC with a 0.61 GAA.

The Rebels and Commodores have played to a tie each of their last three meetings, including a 0-0 draw last season. Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 3-1-3.

“Vanderbilt is one of the best teams in the conference,” Holeman said. “We have always played them close, and it should be a fairly even matchup. It will be a challenge to compete in our fifth consecutive road game in conference play. Vanderbilt’s defense is very organized and they have one of the best keepers in the conference. We will have to be better at finishing our opportunities against their defense.”

Ole Miss’ five seniors Ashley Ferree, Elise Karlowicz, Brittney Potts, Kelly Renie and Lyndsey Williams will be honored on Sunday when the Rebels take on Kentucky for the regular-season home finale.

The 2006 senior class has helped the Rebels to a 19-10-10 SEC record entering the weekend, which is the best winning percentage in a four-year span in school history. Since 2003, the Rebels have made two NCAA Tournaments, including a second-round appearance in 2003. They have also won an SEC West title and finished second overall in the SEC in 2005.

“Senior Day is always a special day,” Holeman added. “We are looking forward to returning home for a good match against Kentucky. We have a great senior class, and I think the team will rally around our seniors and give their best effort.”

The Wilcats (8-6-2, 3-3-1) enter the weekend tied with Arkansas for eighth in the overall SEC standings, but just three points behind the Rebels. Kentucky split its road trip at Tennessee and Georgia over the weekend, downing the Lady Volunteers 1-0 before losing 1-0 to the Bulldogs. Forward Giuleana Lopez is tied for fourth in the SEC with eight goals and 19 points.

“Kentucky is as good as any team in the conference,” Holeman noted. “Their defense has been phenomenal lately. They’ve only given up one goal in their last five games. It should be a great battle.”

Ole Miss has won three of the last four meetings with Kentucky, although the Wildcats lead the all-time series 7-4.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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