The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Soccer Season Outlook
8/10/2007 | Soccer
Sometimes team chemistry develops strongest following a time of difficulty.
Last year’s version of the Ole Miss soccer team compiled an 8-7-5 mark and finished second in the Southeastern Conference Western Division. The Rebels lost just twice in SEC play and have only lost three times in 22 league matches over the last two years.
The squad did not, however, meet its goals or expectations of repeating as SEC West Champions and making a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
For many programs, it would have been a decent year. But for an Ole Miss program that in the last five years has sent three teams to the “Big Dance” and placed among the top four in the league standings three times, it was disappointing.
To Rebel mentor Steve Holeman, the only head coach in program history, the 2006 campaign revealed the high level of expectations the program has assumed. He also believes it has motivated the returning players to reach their goals.
“I think this team is really motivated after the way last season finished,” Holeman said. “In the offseason, the players worked extremely hard. Last spring, in my 12 years at Ole Miss, was the best spring we’ve ever had. We’re looking for them to carry that work ethic through the summer and into the fall.”
If the spring exhibition season provides any indication of how the fall will play out, it could be a special season in 2007.
The Rebels marched through the spring without a blemish, amassing six wins and three ties without a loss against some quality competition. Ole Miss posted wins over recent NCAA Tournament squads Samford, UAB and
Holeman’s team will have to deal with the departure of a talented group of seniors lost to graduation, including former All-SEC players Brittney Potts, Kelly Renie and Lyndsey Williams, and key defensive contributors Ashley Ferree and Elise Karlowicz.
However, he believes that the returning players have a chance to be a cohesive group despite the loss of talent.
“Whereas on paper we may not be as talented as last year, I think we’ll be a harder working team,” Holeman said. “I think we’ll have awesome team chemistry. The girls are ready and motivated to play for each other, win the SEC Western Division and get back to the NCAA Tournament.”
The Rebels have a slew of talented returnees to help lead the charge. Senior midfielder Chrissy Strini and junior midfielder/forward Jennifer Hance are two-time All-SEC honorees, while defender Danielle Johnson was an All-SEC and Freshman All-America pick a year ago. Senior Ann Shelton has proven herself one of the top goalkeepers in the league over the past two seasons.
Despite the return of nine starters from last year’s squad, the competition for starting jobs and playing time at every position appears to be as wide open as ever.
“I think even returning players who started last fall do not have a guaranteed starting spot for this coming fall,” Holeman said. “They all worked incredibly hard during the spring, and we’ve got some freshmen who are coming in that could also compete for starting spots.”
Goalkeepers
For the first time in several years, Ole Miss will boast three game-ready goalkeepers on its roster coming into the season.
Senior Ann Shelton is the returning starter after leading the SEC with a 0.42 goals-against average in league play last year. The
“Ann is a veteran goalkeeper with tons of game experience,” Holeman said of the 2005 NCAA leader in goals-against average. “She has experience in the highest-level games, and we’re depending on her to come back and show more of the same.
The Rebels have two keepers who will be ready to step in at a moment’s notice in junior Megan Vickery and sophomore Jackie DeNova. Vickery, who split equal time in goal with
“Megan had a really good offseason,” Holeman said. “She’s been training and working hard since redshirting last year. Jackie played limited time during the fall, but when she stepped on, she played extremely well. She played very composed as a freshman and played a lot more in the spring. We were able to split time between all three goalkeepers in the spring.
“I think it’s going to be a battle for a starting spot. Regardless of who is our starter in goal, we know we’re going to have three quality keepers, and we feel comfortable with any of the three of them.”
Defenders
The Rebel backfield takes a hit with the loss of four-year starter and team captain Lyndsey Williams, but returns some of the best athletes on the team at what has become an area of real depth for the Ole Miss program.
Returning starters include a pair of former Freshman All-Americans in sophomore Danielle Johnson and junior Christine Breaux, as well as junior Austin Brown, who has started 38-of-41 matches in her two seasons with the Red and Blue.
“Danielle is probably the most complete player I have ever coached,” Holeman said of the
“Christine Breaux at center back is one of our leaders on defense. She has started every game of her career. She brings a lot of leadership, and she’s just a hard-nosed, intense defender with a never-say-die attitude, and she’s always playing to win.
“
Also returning in the backfield is a pair of experienced players in juniors Stacey Emmonds and Amanda Verkin, both of whom have played valuable roles in their first two seasons.
“Stacey started pretty much every game two years ago and came off the bench last year,” Holeman said. “She has a great left foot, and she’s a true soccer player in that she understands the game very well. Amanda had a really good spring at left back. She has very good speed and a great left foot. We’re looking for her to compete for a starting spot.”
Joining the squad to provide more depth this year will be freshman signee Lily Crabtree.
“Lily lacks game experience playing at a high level, but athletically she’ll be one of the top on our team,” Holeman said. “She’s a competitor and she plays to win. She also is a left-sided player with a great left foot, so we’re fortunate to have three very good left-footed players. That’s kind of rare.”
Freshman walk-on Laura Hall is expected to supply depth at center back.
Midfielders
The midfield has historically been a major strength of Rebel soccer teams, and 2007 is no different. Ole Miss has the benefit of returning two of the top midfielders in school history in senior Chrissy Strini and junior Jennifer Hance, both of whom have earned some of the highest honors ever by Rebel players. Both players have received All-SEC accolades the past two years, while Strini became the first All-American in school history in 2005 and Hance was the SEC Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-America pick that same year.
Strini, the skillful distributor, and Hance, the dynamic high flyer, will be counted on to create and finish many of the Rebels’ scoring opportunities, as well as provide leadership for the team as a whole.
“Chrissy was the team captain in the spring,” Holeman said of his field general who tied for the SEC lead with eight assists last year. “We look for her to be a leader in the midfield and to be our playmaker on the attack. She can make players around her better and create scoring opportunities for our forwards and for herself.
“Jen will either be a defensive center mid or play as a target up front. She’s one of the best ball-winners and has one of the best aerial games in the entire country. People now know about her, but she has taken her game to another level. She is a scoring threat and she’s just dominant in the air.”
Senior Amy Gill is another returning starter in the midfield who will be counted on in 2007. Her speed alone gives many teams fits, says Holeman.
“Amy is an attacking midfielder. She brings incredible pace and acceleration to our team. She also can play the role of matching up with the opposing team’s best center midfielder. She’s done an incredible job of neutralizing other teams’ best players over the years.”
Other returning letterwinners at midfield are senior Cori Mehan and sophomore Mallory Coleman.
“Cori is a veteran player who has served as a good role player for us,” Holeman said. “She can play in back and midfield. She always brings a great work ethic and one of the best attitudes we have on the team. Mallory came in and developed a lot throughout her freshman season. She’s been working hard through the summer. She started throughout the spring, and she’s going to look to keep her starting spot in the fall.”
The coaching staff is also excited about the addition of freshman
“We’re looking for
Forwards
Ole Miss lost two of its all-time leading scorers in Brittney Potts and Kelly Renie, but return six letterwinners and welcome two freshmen at the forward position, which could soon become a position of depth for the Rebels.
Sophomore Hannah Weatherly was one of two freshmen to crack the starting lineup on a regular basis last season and tied for second on the squad with six goals scored. She along with senior Christine Liberto will be relied upon to lead a young corps of forwards in 2007.
“I think with a year behind her, Hannah now knows the level of play in the SEC,” Holeman said of the nearby
“We’re looking for Berto to have a breakthrough season. Last year she started most of the year, but she had trouble finishing goals. She’s been working hard on that aspect of her game, and we look for her to score some goals this year.”
Junior Amy Bayles appears to have returned to form after seeing limited action last year following an offseason ACL injury. Both she and sophomore Perryn Tyler are in the running for a starting position.
“Amy never really got back into the flow of things last fall after her ACL,” Holeman said, “but she had a really good spring, and we’re looking for her to compete for a starting spot as an attacking center mid or forward. Perryn was a role player last year. She is really a great soccer player, reads the game well and has an incredible understanding of the game. She can hold the ball up top and allow other players to run off of her. She also has a potential to start for us.”
Helping to provide depth at forward will be senior Morgan Reichel and sophomore Mallory Rickert, while the Rebels hope to score more goals with the addition of talented freshmen Taylor Cunningham and Macie Williams.
“
“Macie was one of the top scorers in the state of
The Rebels set a school record with five ties last season and hope to improve on their ability to score goals to help convert some of the ties into wins this season.
“I think this fall we’ll have more depth in the forward position,” Holeman said. “I think we’ll have probably five or six forwards that could potentially start for us. Last year we didn’t score as many goals as we would have liked to, especially in SEC play. I think this year’s going to be different because of players like
Schedule
Ole Miss has put together another strong non-conference schedule to help prepare the team for the grind and intensity of league play. Among the Rebels’ 2007 opponents are the ACC’s Miami Hurricanes and recent NCAA squads from Conference
“I think this is one of the best non-conference schedules we’ve ever had,” Holeman said. “The reason is because of the balance. I think we have eight non-conference opponents that are all competitive. They are all teams that are going to make us better and prepare us for the SEC. There are no gimmies on this schedule.”
The always challenging conference slate begins with a trip to
Overall, the Rebels will square off with seven of last year’s NCAA Tournament teams and eight squads who finished ranked in the top 10 in regional rankings.
