The University of Mississippi Athletics
SEC Play Continues for Ole Miss Soccer
10/8/2015 | Soccer
MATCHUP: (RV) Ole Miss (8-3-2, 2-3-0 SEC) at Arkansas (5-6-1, 1-3-1 SEC)
Date: Oct. 9, 2015, 7 p.m. CT
Location: Fayetteville, Ark.
Venue: Razorback Field
Capacity: 1,200
Television: SEC Network+
Live Stats: OleMissSports.com
Series: Ole Miss leads 14-4-2
Last Game: Draw, 1-1
Oxford, Miss.
Sept. 25, 2014
MATCHUP: (RV) Ole Miss (8-3-2, 2-3-0 SEC) vs. #10 South Carolina (10-1-1, 4-0-1 SEC)
Date: Oct. 11, 2015, 7 p.m. CT
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Venue: Ole Miss Soccer Stadium
Capacity: 1,500
Television: SEC Network+
Richard Cross, play-by-play
Ian Banner/Holly Hansarling, analysts
Live Stats:
Series: South Carolina leads 9-4-3
Last Game: South Carolina won, 2-0
Columbia, S.C.
Oct. 19, 2014
PROMOTIONS
Oct. 11: Greek Night- Fraternity & Sorority members receive a commemorative Ole Miss wristband
SUPPLY DRIVE FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
The Ole Miss athletics department is asking the greater Oxford and University of Mississippi community to help support fellow SEC conference member, South Carolina, and the greater Columbia, S.C., community that was devastated by floods, by donating supplies at several Ole Miss athletics events this weekend. Fans can donate specific items such as diapers, blankets, bottles and formula, clothing, non-perishable food items, and diaper wipes Friday night as the Ole Miss Volleyball teams takes on Georgia at 6:30 p.m., or on Sunday as the Ole Miss Soccer team takes on South Carolina at 7 p.m. For more information on how you can help, click here.
KICKERS
- Last time out, Ole Miss saw its three-match winnings streak come to an end in a 2-1 setback at Missouri
- The Rebels are No. 39 in the RPI and are also receiving votes in the NSCAA national poll
- Ole Miss is currently eighth in the SEC standings
- The Rebels have scored 28 goals this season, ranking 24th nationally
- Freshman CeCe Kizer leads the nation with six game-winnings goals, and her 11 total goals rank fourth
- Kizer's 11 goals, which rank second in the SEC, are also the most scored by an Ole Miss freshman since Kelly Renie recorded 18 goals during the 2002 season.
- Junior Addie Forbus has eight goals and 20 points this season, ranking fifth in the SEC in both categories
- Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Marnie Merritt made eight saves against Mizzou, tying her career high
READY FOR RAZORBACKS
Ole Miss travels to Fayetteville, Ark. on Friday night to take on the Razorbacks at 7 p.m. The Razorbacks, coached by Colby Hale, last faced off against No. 10 ranked South Carolina, which resulted in a 2-2 draw on Friday night. The tie brought Arkansas to 5-6-1 (1-3-1 SEC) on the season. The Razorback attack is led by junior midfielder Claire Kelley, who has notched six goals this season and holds the top spot on the team in both goals and points. The Rebels hold a 14-4-2 advantage over Arkansas in all-time games played between the two SEC foes. In 2014, the two teams played to a 1-1 draw at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. Gretchen Harknett scored the equalizer in the home contest, finding the back of the net in the 69th minute.
SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
Following the road matchup against Arkansas, Ole Miss will return to the home pitch to host No. 10 South Carolina. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Gamecocks sit atop the SEC standings with a 4-0-1 mark for 13 points in conference play. South Carolina is 10-1-1 overall on the season after a draw versus Arkansas last week. Senior goalkeeper Caroline Kelly marked four saves during the Arkansas match to post her season-high. On offense, sophomore midfielder Savannah McCaskill has been a critical factor in helping the Gamecocks edge past opponents as she has tallied eight goals and four assists for a total of 20 points so far this season. As a team, the Gamecocks lead the SEC in goals (33), assists (31) and points (97). The Rebels last matched up against South Carolina in 2014 in Columbia which resulted in a 0-2 loss for Ole Miss. The Gamecocks also lead the all-time series with a 9-4-3 mark after 16 meetings between the two.
SEC TOURNAMENT DRAWS NEAR
With three weeks left of regular season play, the Rebels are sitting at the eighth spot in the conference. If the season were to end today, Ole Miss would head to the SEC Tournament in Orange Beach, Ala. to face Vanderbilt, currently ninth in the standings. South Carolina would hold the top spot while Mississippi State would round out the tournament as the 10th seed.
SCORING EARLY
In Friday's game versus Mizzou, CeCe Kizer gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the contest. The early goal marked the fourth time this season the Rebels have scored in the first five minutes of a match. Addie Forbus start the early scoring with a goal in the third minute against Boise State, the Rebels' second game of the season. Kizer notched a goal in the second minute against Austin Peay, and Danielle Gray also tallied an early goal after scoring against UCF, finding the back of the net in the third minute.
BACKLINE STRONG AND STEADY
Fellow senior Jessica Hiskey's primary roll has been as a midfielder, though she moved to the backline to help her team when called upon. Hiskey played her center back position to perfection against Alabama in the second half, helping to anchor the defense and limiting the Crimson Tide's shots. On Sunday, Hiskey started in the same spot and led the Ole Miss backline in becoming the first team to shutout a dangerous LSU team this season. The Rebels also limited the Tigers to just seven shots in 90 minutes. Liza Harbin, Maddie Friedmann, Danielle Gray and Lize Harbin also played a crucial role in anchoring the defense for Ole Miss. The Rebels have posted five clean sheets this season, with three individual shutouts being credited to redshirt-freshman goalkeeper Marnie Merritt. The total saves marked by the Rebels rank fourth in the conference.
KIZER ROLLING
The Rebels are now 8-3-2 overall on the 2015 campaign behind the goal scoring of freshman CeCe Kizer. The fast forward's six game-winning goals give her the top mark in the nation. Kizer scored her sixth game-winning goal of the season in the 3-2 comeback thriller against SEC foe Alabama last Friday. The matchup against Memphis on Sept. 20 also marked the second multi-goal game of Kizer's young career. When the Rebels took on SEC opponent Mizzou Friday, Oct. 2, Kizer struck again and scored in the third minute on an assist from Addie Forbus. This goal was the 11th of the season for Kizer and ranks as the third most goals scored by a freshman in Ole Miss soccer history.
FORWARDS ON THE ATTACK
With 28 goals in 13 games, Ole Miss ranks fourth in the SEC and 24th in the nation. A large part of the scoring success can be credited to a pair of forwards in junior Addie Forbus and freshman CeCe Kizer. Kizer paces the Rebels with 11 goals, while Forbus has found the back of the net eight times. Combining for 19 goals this season, the dynamic duo has been a major factor to the Rebels' early success. Kizer's 11 goals give her 22 points on the 2015 campaign, which is third in the conference. Along with her eight goals, Forbus has added four assists for a total of 20 points, placing her fifth in the SEC in both categories. Forbus and Kizer combine to be the third-highest scoring pair in the nation.
NEW KEEPER, NO PROBLEM
Losing Kelly McCormick to graduation, the Rebels entered 2015 needing to fill the shoes of the record-breaking goalkeeper. Enter redshirt freshman Marnie Merritt. She has been an anchor in the goal for the Rebels so far this season. With Merritt getting the starts and playing the majority of the minutes, the Ole Miss backline pitched four shutouts through the first six games of the season. Merritt also has posted three individual shutouts throughout the 2015 campaign thus far. She made a career-high eight saves at No. 11 Florida and tied that mark against Mizzou last Friday. She also produced a clean sheet versus LSU, becoming the first goalie to shutout the Tigers this season.
SUCCESS AT HOME
The Rebels have seen their fair share of success on the home pitch over the history of the program with a 112-44-17 all-time record at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. Following a pair of victories over SEC opponents Alabama and LSU, Ole Miss boasts a 7-1-1 mark at home this season. The Rebels hold a 38-14-10 all-time record at home during the Matthew Mott era.
ON THE HORIZON
The grind of SEC play continue for Ole Miss next week as the Rebels will face a nationally ranked team for the second straight game and fifth time this season. Auburn travels to the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium for a conference matchup Friday night, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. As usual, fans can tune into the action on SEC Network+.
