The University of Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Season Preview: Goalkeepers
8/10/2016 | Soccer
OXFORD, Miss. - No. 22 Ole Miss soccer arrived in Dallas Tuesday night and hit the practice fields Wednesday morning on the campus of SMU in preparation for Friday's preseason match.
While the Rebels prep for the upcoming campaign, OleMissSports.com will take a look at and breakdown each position group heading into the season. Wednesday's look features the goalkeepers, where Marnie Merritt and Madi Killeen return with experience in goal.
Merritt, who started all 23 contests last season helping lead the Rebels to the Sweet 16, ranked third in the NCAA in minutes played (2,151). She allowed just 26 goals all season long and already ranks fifth on the career charts in goals allowed average (1.09).
"I think this is one of the real strengths in our team," head coach Matthew Mott said. "Obviously we're returning Marnie Merritt and Madi Killeen to our goalkeeping position. Marnie has established herself as one of the best keepers in the SEC, last year certainly playing so well down the stretch. She's had a great summer back and is ready to go."
Behind Merritt is Killeen, who saw action in two matches early in 2015. She provides great depth at the keeper position heading into her redshirt junior campaign.
"Madi Killeen is certainly a very, very good SEC caliber goalkeeper and does a great job," Mott added.
Also providing depth behind Merritt and Killeen is freshman Claire Williams, the only Californian on the 2016 roster.
"We've added Claire Williams, a freshman from California, who's come in and is fit and is working really hard and giving us some great depth at goalkeeping," Mott said. "Coach (Rob) Thompson is very happy with his goalkeeping crew and those guys are doing a great job."
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Soccer on Twitter at @OleMissSoccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissSoccer, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemisssoccer. Also follow head coach Matt Mott on Twitter at @CoachMattMott. Additionally fans can get a behind the scenes look at Ole Miss Athletics on Snapchat under the handle, @WeAreOleMiss.
