The University of Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Kicks Off Preseason With First Game Two Weeks Away
8/6/2008 | Soccer
The Rebel squad of 23 players, including 15 returnees and eight freshmen, reported to campus Monday and begin practice Wednesday following two days of orientation activities capped by Tuesday night’s preseason team dinner in the
“It’s good to have all of our girls here together. The returnees have been working really hard in the offseason, and we have a talented group of newcomers that we feel will greatly enhance our team this year,” said Steve Holeman, who enters his 14th season as the only head coach in school history.
Ole Miss will hold two or three practices per day throughout the remainder of the week and the weekend before beginning preparations for its Aug. 16 exhibition match at Samford.
The 2008 campaign is a promising one, starting with a strong class of seven seniors that Holeman and his staff are expecting to help lead the team as the Rebels compete for a Southeastern Conference title and berth in the NCAA Tournament.
“This season is all about leadership, and that starts with our seven seniors," said Holeman, referring to All-SEC midfielders Amy Bayles and Jennifer Hance, along with Christine Breaux, Austin Brown, Stacey Emmonds, Amanda Verkin and Megan Vickery. "They're not just seven seniors, but seven leaders. They all played in the NCAA Tournament (in 2005), and the last two years they missed out on that, and they want that back. They won an SEC West title and barely missed it the last two years, and they want that back. They know what it takes to accomplish those things, and they're going to do everything in their power to make sure they recapture the West title and get back to the Big Dance.”
Also among the nine returning starters is two-time All-SEC defender Danielle Johnson, who will help anchor the Rebel backfield in her junior season.
Ole Miss is coming off a 2007 season that saw the team finish third in the SEC West and drop or tie several close contests, despite going undefeated against Western Division opponents for the third straight year.
The Rebels begin their quest to return to postseason play when the regular season kicks off on the road against
Tickets for all home games are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Ole Miss students receive free admission by showing a valid student ID at the gate. The Ole Miss ticket office also offers two different season ticket packages individual ($40) and family ($100 for two adults and two children). For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Ole Miss ticket office at 662-915-7167.
