OXFORD, Miss. A big weekend for the Rebel soccer team happens this Friday and Sunday at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium when the team welcomes Colorado and Oklahoma of the Big 12 Conference for a pair of regionally significant showdowns.
Friday’s 7 p.m. match with regionally ranked Colorado is “Toga Night” at the soccer park. Fans who wear togas will receive free admission, and the first 250 fans in attendance will be given an Ole Miss disposable camera to capture all the fun. Prizes will also be awarded for the best toga outfits.
Oklahoma visits Oxford for Sunday’s 1 p.m. contest. A family of four will be admitted free with one Ole Miss staff ID as Rebel Soccer says thank you to all faculty and staff of the University. All fans can enjoy free Bofield’s chicken before the game.
For fans unable to attend this weekend, both matches will be streamed live on RebelVision, Ole Miss’ premium content provider. Click here to sign up and watch.
The Rebels (1-2-2) are coming off their first win of the season, a dominant 1-0 shutout of Southern Miss last Sunday in which Ole Miss out-shot the Golden Eagles 18-4. Senior midfielder Jennifer Hance and junior forward Hannah Weatherly pace the Rebels offensively with two goals apiece.
“The girls are excited about this weekend,” said head coach Steve Holeman. “They’re relieved to have gotten that first win. They know we’re a great team, and they are ready to go out there and compete hard in front of our fans. It’s great to have (Colorado and Oklahoma) at home.”
The Buffaloes enter the week with a 3-1-1 record and No. 7 ranking in the Central Region. On the season, they have out-scored opponents 12-5 and amassed an impressive 110 shots while allowing only 24 to their foes. Amber Bettenhausen tops the squad with three goals, while All-American Nikki Marshall has two goals and an assist to help lead the offense.
“Colorado has great team speed and a great attacking threat,” Holeman said. “They score goals in bunches, and it will be a challenge for our defense to be organized and keep them from created too many opportunities. We also will have to capitalize on our own opportunities and be better at creating chances.”
Oklahoma has struggled early to a 1-4 record after dropping a pair of one-goal decisions last weekend. Whitney Palmer has scored three of the team’s six goals so far. The Sooners have been out-scored by their opponents 11-6 in the five matches.
“(Oklahoma’s) record does not reflect the talent on their team,” Holeman said. “They come from a power conference. They have a new coach, and I’m sure she is going to have them energized and ready to play.”
Ole Miss boasts a 12-5 all-time record against teams currently in the Big 12 Conference. The Rebels and Buffaloes have split their previous meetings, with Ole Miss winning 3-0 in 2002 and Colorado earning a 3-1 victory in 2006. Sunday’s contest with Oklahoma will be the teams’ first meeting against each other.
