The University of Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Rebels Selected To National Competition
2/8/2006 | Soccer
Feb. 8, 2006
CARSON, Calif. - Four Ole Miss soccer players and head coach Steve Holeman have been selected to participate in one of youth soccer's top events this weekend. The Olympic Development Program (ODP) under-19 region teams will be competing at the national camp Thursday through Sunday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
Rebel sophomores Chrissy Strini and Megan Vickery and freshmen Christine Breaux and Jennifer Hance are members of the South squad, of which Holeman is an assistant coach.
The South team, or Region III, is one of four national regions of 18 players each that form the field of 72 of the nation's top women's soccer players 19-years-old and under. Players from each of the region teams are competing for roster spots on the ODP national team pool.
Holeman, who has directed Ole Miss to the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years and guided the 2005 Rebels to the program's third SEC West title, has been involved in the Region III program since 1996 and is in his fourth year as an assistant coach. Holeman served as Region III head coach at the U.S. Olympic Festival in 2001 and 2002, and guided the team to a gold medal finish in 2001.
Strini, a native of Cordova, Tenn., became Ole Miss' first All-American when she earned honorable mention accolades from Soccer Buzz following the 2005 season. The midfielder tied for second in the SEC and led Ole Miss with seven assists, along with tying for the team lead with seven goals scored. This is her third selection to the national camp.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Vickery amassed 36 saves with just 10 goals allowed in 19 games played as she split time in goal with fellow sophomore keeper Ann Shelton. Vickery was a member of the 2001 national pool.
Breaux, who hails from Gonzales, La., was one of two Rebels to earn Freshman All-America honors when she was named to the Soccer Buzz third team. The SEC All-Freshman team defender started all 21 matches for Ole Miss and led the team in minutes played.
A 5-foot-10 midfielder, Hance became one of Ole Miss Soccer's most decorated freshmen when she was honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year as well as being named second-team Freshman All-America and All-SEC. The Sugar Land, Texas, native tied for the team lead with seven goals and led the conference with five game-winning scores, including four in league play.
