.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
13-4-2, 7-4-0SEC
Vanderbilt
8-7-4, 4-4-3SEC
No. 12 Ole Miss Drops Regular Season Finale to Vanderbilt
10/29/2015 | Soccer
OXFORD, Miss.- The No. 12 Ole Miss soccer team dropped their final regular season game Thursday to the Vanderbilt Commodores on Senior Night. The setback snapped the Rebels' (13-4-2, 7-4-0 SEC) five-game winning streak.
It was the lone goal in the 84th minute from Lydia Simmons that gave the Commodores (8-7-4, 4-4-3 SEC) the edge in the match. With the goal occurring late in the contest Rebels did not have much time to square the contest, dropping their first home match since Sept. 11.
"We played right into their hands," noted head coach Matthew Mott. "They sat in really deep and looked to counter, and they got one chance and scored it. We praise them on a good goal, but we're certainly disappointed to finish this way. We have games left though, so we'll have to bounce back and get ready for Orange Beach."
Throughout the game, Ole Miss had a couple of opportunities on the Vanderbilt end, but was unable to find the back of the net.
The Rebels outshot 11-5 with two landing on goal. Vanderbilt was able to fire four shots on goal, and Simmons' lone attempt serving as the game winner. Vandy goalkeeper Christiana Ogunsami made two saves to collect the shutout. Ole Miss redshirt-freshman Marnie Merritt stopped three shots on the evening.
Ole Miss had a handful of opportunities at the goal early in the game, one coming in from five yards out in the 12th minute. However, the ball sailed high from the foot of Gretchen Harknett, turning it back over to the Commodores.
"We pressed forward and just weren't good enough in the box and around the box," mentioned Mott. "We had too many errant passes and missed passes, and we have to get that cleaned up before next week."
Prior to the matchup, seven Rebel seniors were honored: Bethany Bunker, Maddie Friedmann, Olivia Harrison, Jessica Hiskey, Jennifer Miller, Georgia Russell and Samantha Sanders. The 2015 senior class compiled a 50-25-9 record as Rebels, winning 65 percent of their games during their four-year run thus far. As sophomores, this class helped Ole Miss to a program-record 16 wins during the 2013 season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
"The seniors have carried us the whole season," said Coach Mott "We've had a great season, and we want to get to the beach and give ourselves a chance certainly. We have to tip our hats to them for what they've done for this program and what they've accomplished."
Speaking of accomplishments, Rebel Nation set a home attendance single-season record with 10,386 fans coming out to support Ole Miss Soccer all year long.
Ole Miss finished the 2015 regular season with a 13-4-3 mark, including seven victories in SEC play for the second-most in school history. The Rebels hit the road for the SEC Soccer Tournament next week in Orange Beach, Alabama. Ole Miss, predicted to finish 10th in the SEC preseason poll, finished the regular season third in the conference. As the No. 3 seed entering the SEC Tournament, the Rebels are set to play 2:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, and their opponent has yet to be determined.
"You want to be top-six," noted Mott, since the top-six earn byes into the quarterfinals. "That was our goal from the beginning, so we are happy with that. This one's going to burn for little bit, but we have to get ready to go when we hit Orange Beach."
Team Stats
Lydia Simmons (1)
Assisted By: Jamie Kator
shot from left side, 15 yards out into l
84:20
