The University of Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Begins 2008 Season On The Road
8/20/2008 | Soccer
Ole Miss welcomes back nine starters from last year’s team that went 7-8-5 and finished third in the Southeastern Conference Western Division, despite not losing a match to a division foe for the third straight season.
Among the returnees are three former All-SEC selections in senior midfielders Amy Bayles and Jennifer Hance and junior defender Danielle Johnson. Bayles and Hance are part of a strong senior class of seven that looks to lead Ole Miss back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.
The Rebels will face off against a
“Our girls are very excited to get the season underway,” said Holeman, who enters his 14th year as the only head coach in Rebel soccer history. “We have been training hard, and I think the girls are very motivated. It will be important for us to get a good result in the opener.
Friday will mark the first meeting between the two schools, while Ole Miss owns a 6-1 all-time record against Sun Belt teams.
The Rebels fared well in a tune-up against Samford this past Saturday, beating the Bulldogs 1-0 and winning the shots battle 16-4. Seven of the team’s incoming freshmen garnered minutes in the exhibition contest, and the talented group has been a welcome addition to the Ole Miss squad.
“The freshmen have had a good preseason and added a lot to our team,” Holeman said. “They have not only been contributing on the field, but they have also made our returnees better and provided quality competition for them.”
Ole Miss boasts a 9-3-1 all-time record in season openers, including last year’s 1-1 tie with the Miami Hurricanes. The Rebels have not lost an opener since 2001.
