The University of Mississippi Athletics
2006 Ole Miss Soccer Season Outlook
8/21/2006 | Soccer
Talent, experience and hard work. Throw in some young competition and momentum from a stellar 2005 campaign, and what awaits could be the recipe for a special fall season for 12th-year head coach Steve Holeman and the Ole Miss soccer team.
Expectations soar as the defending Southeastern Conference Western Division Champions enter the 2006 season with all 11 returning starters and almost every key reserve back from last year’s NCAA Tournament team.
The stage is set for the Rebels to show the nation they are a force to be reckoned with.
“This is a much-anticipated season with all of our starters returning,” said Holeman, the only head soccer coach in school history. “We have a strong recruiting class coming in, and we feel like several of the girls in our incoming freshman class can make an immediate impact. Our players have been training hard throughout the spring and summer.”
While the newcomers will be adding to the talent pool and creating competition, there has already been some momentum produced by one of the best seasons in program history.
“We ended last season on a pretty positive note,” Holeman added. “Although we lost to Pepperdine in the NCAA Tournament, we actually played some of our very best soccer in that game. It was kind of exciting and encouraging to end the year playing so well, especially knowing we were returning 11 starters.”
Another demanding schedule faces this year’s team. In addition to the top-flight squads in the SEC, the Rebels will play some outstanding non-conference foes. Visiting
“In a year when we feel like we have a pretty competitive team, there’s no question we have our most challenging non-conference schedule we’ve ever put together,” Holeman said. “It’s going to be great to have an opportunity to play a team like Notre Dame, especially at home. It’s why you play the game for chances to knock off a top team like that.”
Holeman also noted there won’t be many teams taking the Rebels for granted.
“Our games are all going to be tough. People highlight Ole Miss now. They don’t look at Ole Miss as a game they can take lightly. People will bring their best to play us, and we have to be ready for that. In the SEC West, we’re the team to beat. If any team wants to win the West title, they probably feel like they need to beat Ole Miss, just like last year we felt like we needed to beat
The Rebels should benefit from the experience and leadership of five seniors, including former All-SEC selections in forwards Brittney Potts and Kelly Renie and defender Lyndsey Williams. The team will also rely on the talent of some of the underclassmen. Junior midfielder Chrissy Strini was an honorable mention All-American a year ago, while sophomores Jennifer Hance and Christine Breaux earned Freshman All-America honors at midfielder and defender, respectively. Hance was also the 2005 SEC Freshman of the Year.
Goalkeepers
Ole Miss’ goalkeeper position seems to be in good hands with returning NCAA goals-against average leader Ann Shelton. Her 0.268 mark from last year led the nation and set a new SEC record. The junior is entering her fourth season with the Rebels.
“It’s nice to have a veteran returning in goal,” Holeman said. “It’s a critical position. We’re fortunate to have the player who led the nation in goals-against average, and she’s only a junior. She’s been playing throughout the summer. She’s been working hard, and we know she’ll come in prepared both physically and mentally.”
“We feel bad with what has happened to Megan, but she has such a positive attitude,” Holeman noted. “She’s a self-motivator, and she will come back and come back strong. Although she may not hop in the net this fall, she’s going to play a huge role for this team as far as motivating and encouraging others and keeping our chemistry together.”
Holeman is excited about what incoming freshman Jackie DeNova brings to the team. The 5-foot-9 netminder comes to Ole Miss after a stellar prep career in
Defenders
Senior center back Lyndsey Williams and sophomore Christine Breaux highlight a strong and deep backfield for the Rebels in 2006 after a record-setting campaign a year ago, which saw school records of 12 shutouts, eight shutouts in league play and 13 goals allowed all season.
“We look for Lyndsey to be a leader in the back,” Holeman said of the two-time team defensive MVP. “As a fifth-year senior, she’s one of the best defenders in the SEC, the region and the country. She had a really good spring and summer playing in the WPSL.
“Christine was a freshman All-American, but there’s always room for improvement. With a year’s experience under her belt, she’s going to be even stronger and more talented.”
The Rebels also return starters Austin Brown and Stacey Emmonds, both of whom will be sophomores in 2006.
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“Stacey is a returning starter. I think she’s going to be pushed by (senior) Elise Karlowicz and (sophomore) Amanda Verkin, as well as an incoming freshman, Danielle Johnson. Danielle is one of the most talented defenders in our region, and we look for her to make an impact right away.”
Another senior is Ashley Ferree, who along with being a key reserve, is one of the top students on the squad and was a member of the 2005 SEC Soccer Good Works Team for her community service efforts.
“Ashley has always been a great role player for us. She’s good enough to start, and she always brings something extra to our lineup. She can play in the back and in the midfield.”
Midfielders
The top two returning goal scorers both reside in the midfield, in junior Chrissy Strini and sophomore Jennifer Hance. Each netted seven goals last season, while Strini added seven assists, which tied for second-best in the conference. Hance had an SEC-best five game-winning goals, four of which came in league play.
“Obviously, Chrissy as an All-American and Jenn as the SEC Freshman of the Year highlight our midfield,” Holeman said.
The talent does not end with those two, though. The Rebels also return starters Cori Mehan and Amy Gill, who will both be juniors in 2006.
“Cori was one of our starters last year as a center mid,” Holeman added. “She’s one of the most coachable players we have on our team. Whether she’s starting or coming off the bench, she’s going to be a positive factor for our team.
“Amy is another returning starter. She’s going to add that athletic dimension to our midfield. Her speed alone has always been a threat to opposing defenses.”
Adding depth to the standout midfield will be junior Morgan Reichel from
Forwards
Forward is yet another position in which the Rebels return a group of talented play-makers.
Former all-conference picks Brittney Potts and Kelly Renie will look to lead the squad up front as seniors, with junior Christine Liberto and sophomore Amy Bayles not far behind. Bayles is currently recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the spring.
“Brittney has always been a very dynamic forward with the potential to be one of the best in the conference,” Holeman said. “There are just a few players on our team that have the ability to run at players and beat them one v. one and create opportunities off the dribble, and Potts is one of them.
“As a sixth-year senior, Renie definitely has experience. And this is the final run for her, so I think she’s motivated to make this her best season ever. She is always a threat with her speed and acceleration and ability to score goals.
Holeman believes Liberto is in line for a breakout season, while Bayles may be able to contribute this season despite the injury.
“As a junior, Liberto has enough experience behind her now, where this is a year for her to step up and be an impact player on our team and do that consistently. She has great speed, unbelievable skills and can strike the ball unbelievably well. If she can put her full game together, she’s going to be dangerous for us.
“Bayles is coming back stronger and faster than anyone I’ve seen from an ACL. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is full-go by a couple weeks into the season.
“We’re going to ask a lot from our forwards this year. In a year where we had our best season ever, we didn’t get a lot of goals out of our forwards, so our starting lineup is going to be determined by the players that can put the ball in the back of the net.”
Pushing the returnees will be a talented group of newcomers, led by
“Hannah was one of the top forwards at the under-19 Region III camp this year. She’s one of the most talented soccer players ever to come through the state of
The Rebels are looking for contributions from incoming freshman Texan Mallory Rickert and redshirt-freshman Tulane transfer Jessie Hrapmann. Providing depth will be Caitlin Mizell from Atlanta, Ga., and Brook Thebeau from Charlotte, N.C.
