Rebels Ready For NCAA Trip To West Coast

OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 25 Ole Miss soccer team is set to travel to Portland, Ore., for its first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against the Washington Huskies on Friday (4 p.m. PT, Clive Charles Soccer Complex).

The Rebels are making their fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament and earned their first berth since the 2005 season. The winner of the Ole Miss-Washington matchup will advance to face the winner between Denver and No. 2 seeded host Portland on Sunday at Noon PT.

"We've worked extremely hard throughout the season and gotten better each time out," said head coach Steve Holeman, who has led the Rebels to a 13-5-2 record. "This team plays with a lot of heart and passion and intensity, and we know as a coaching staff that they're going to give it their all when they step on the field with Washington on Friday."

Ole Miss enters the NCAA Tournament with only two losses in its last 10 outings. The Rebels boast the 18th-best goals-against average and the 24th-best scoring average in the nation. They will be seeking their first postseason win since an NCAA first-round triumph over Texas in 2003.

All-SEC seniors Danielle Johnson and Hannah Weatherly, along with fellow senior team captain Mallory Coleman, have led the Rebel squad to its most wins since going 14-5-2 in 2005. Weatherly tops the team with nine goals, while Johnson has five goals and four assists. Sophomore Dylan Jordan has been on fire of late with five goals in the team's last five outings.

Washington enters the NCAA Tournament with an 11-5-4 overall record and a 3-3-3 mark in Pac-10 competition. The Huskies most recently tied No. 19 USC 2-2 in Seattle to close the regular season. Lesle Gallimore's team earned its 10th NCAA Tournament bid and is led by a pair of All-Pac-10 second teamers in forward Veronica Perez and midfielder Kate Deines. Perez shares team-high scoring honors with McKenna Waitley at six goals apiece.

"Washington is obviously a very talented team," Holeman said. "It should be a really good matchup. From everything I've heard about them and everything I know about us, it's going to be a great game."

Ole Miss has never faced Washington or Portland, while the Rebels lost their only meeting with Denver, 1-0 in 2006.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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