The University of Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Season Preview: Forwards
8/11/2016 | Soccer
OXFORD, Miss. - The No. 22 Ole Miss soccer team will go through one final training session Thursday night in Dallas ahead of the Rebels' exhibition match with SMU Friday night at 7 p.m.
While the Rebels continue practice for the upcoming campaign, OleMissSports.com will take a look at and breakdown each position group heading into the season. Thursday's final look features the forwards, where the Rebels return the trio of CeCe Kizer, Addie Forbus and Gretchen Harknett, who combined for 30 goals in 2015.
As a unit, Ole Miss ranked in the top-35 in the NCAA in total assists (25th - 40), total goals (31st - 43) and total points (27th - 126). The Rebels had the SEC's fourth-highest scoring offense (1.87 goals per game) in 2015, and return 84 percent of the goal production (36-of-43 goals).
"Our forward line, which is our most dangerous, is the most experienced and the one that we're going to count on to carry us," head coach Matthew Mott said. "You're talking about Addie Forbus and Gretchen Harknett as two of our returning forwards, along with CeCe (Kizer), were one of the tops in the SEC in goal production, as well as tops in the country."
Forbus, an All-SEC First Team selection back for her senior campaign, ranked sixth in the league a year ago with 11 total goals, and also dished out seven assists to help lead the Rebels to the Sweet 16. Harknett, also one of seven seniors, tied Forbus with seven assists and scored five goals of her own. Kizer, who will play both ways as a midfielder and forward, is the defending SEC Freshman of the Year and was a First Team Freshman All-American according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
"Both Addie and Gretchen are both very fit, very strong, have come in and are playing at a really high level," Mott added. "For me it's the area where we're most improved with those guys."
Also back with experience on the attacking line are senior Mackenze Parma, and sophomore Tara Sullivan, who both saw time in a handful of matches a season ago. Add in high school standouts in Gabby Little and Alley Houghton, and the Rebels have ample depth at the forward position.
"You add players like Gabby Little, who can play midfield or up top," Mott said. "Alley Houghton and Tara Sullivan can play up there for us and help us. Mackenze Parma is another that's a midfield/forward that will play minutes for us. She's ready to kind of flash on to the scene. She's been with us and is ready to help us."
*Senior Danielle Gray and freshman Maddi Falter are currently injured.
"The season-ending injury to Danielle Gray is certainly disappointing to all of us," Mott said. "She had a knee injury in our first practice and that's a big loss for us. We're waiting for Maddi Falter, who is still waiting to come back."
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.
