Ole Miss Soccer Ties Miami In Season Opener

OXFORD, Miss. The Rebels and Hurricanes each had their opportunities in a hard-fought match at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, but the season debut for both teams ended in a 1-1 draw on Friday night.

Each team scored in the first half, but the defenses prevailed the rest of the way as the squads could not push across a goal after the second half and two overtimes.

“We do not like to end in a tie,” said Rebel head coach Steve Holeman, whose squad set a school record with five ties last year. “In the first overtime period, I would be disappointed with a tie, but then after the second overtime period, we’re content. Give credit to Miami. They took it to us in the second overtime. I think for the first 100 minutes it was a very even match. We both had great rhythm and scoring opportunities.”

Ole Miss out-shot Miami 17-15 through the first overtime period, but the Hurricanes produced a steady offensive attack and out-shot the Rebels 7-1 in the final overtime period to finish with a 22-18 overall advantage.

After Miami took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by Brittney Steinbruch in the 15th minute, Ole Miss evened it up at the 27:31 mark thanks to a little help by the Hurricanes. After freshman forward Taylor Cunningham sprinted down the right side and controlled the ball, she sent a cross through the box that deflected off a Miami defender and into the net for an own-goal.

A physical second half saw the teams rack up 16 fouls and three yellow cards, while there were 29 fouls between the two squads for the match.

Ole Miss had several chances to tally a goal, including some close calls off the foot of sophomore Mallory Coleman on free kicks. Coleman led the Rebels with four shots and two shots-on-goal, but it was really junior goalkeeper Megan Vickery that shined the most.

“The difference-maker for us was Megan Vickery,” Holeman said. “She made three or four point-blank saves, and it’s not too bad to end with a tie watching her saves.”

Vickery went the full 110 minutes and notched a career-high eight saves, including several game-saving grabs in the second overtime. It was her first regular-season action since the 2005 season after she missed all of last year with a torn ACL.

Steinbruch led all players with eight shots and four shots-on-goal. Miami keeper Kyle Kocarek went the full 110 minutes and tallied six saves.

Ole Miss moves to 9-3-1 all-time in season openers, and has not lost a debut in six years.

Continuing this weekend’s Sunshine State theme, the Rebels host South Florida on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. As part of “Take a Kid to the Game,” kids receive free admission for each adult ticket purchased, and there will be free cotton candy and an inflatable moon walk.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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