The University of Mississippi Athletics
Transfers Mary Kate Smith, Julia Phillips Sign with Rebel Soccer
1/23/2017 | Soccer
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss soccer landed two key transfers in Mary Kate Smith and Julia Phillips, head coach Matthew Mott announced Monday.
Phillips joins the Rebels after a year with Florida State, where she helped lead the squad to a 14-4-4 record. In her time in Tallahassee, the Seminoles fell no lower than No. 13 in the top-25 poll, advancing to the second round of the NCAA Championship.
Smith starts her final two years at Ole Miss after previous stops at Southern Miss, and most recently Jones County Junior College. The Ellisville, Mississippi native was named a NJCAA Division I Honorable Mention All-American and All-Region 23 performer after scoring 21 goals and 18 assists in 2016.
See below for a full bio and quotes on Smith and Phillips.
Julia Phillips | So. | Midfielder | 5-6 | Ashburn, Va. | Florida State
2016 (Freshman - Florida State): Transfer from Florida State รขโฌยฆ Saw minutes in wins at Middle Tennessee and at home against Mercer รขโฌยฆ Helped FSU to the second round of the 2016 NCAA Championship รขโฌยฆ Seminoles were ranked in top-10 of poll all of regular season.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Bishop O'Connell and Stone Bridge High School รขโฌยฆ Varsity starter during freshman and sophomore seasons รขโฌยฆ Named second team all-conference as a freshman รขโฌยฆ Earned all-metro honorable mention and first team all-conference honors as a sophomore, as well as being named a finalist for Virginia Player of the Year รขโฌยฆ Also played basketball.
CLUB/ODP: Competed for FC Virginia ECNL and was ranked in the top ten for final three seasons รขโฌยฆ Invited to the Atlantic ECNL PDP team in 2013, 2014 and 2015 รขโฌยฆ Played in a friendly match against the U-17 Italian National Team at Centro Technico Coverciano รขโฌยฆ Traveled to Germany with the Virginia State ODP team in 2011 and was a team captain รขโฌยฆ Competed with the Washington Spirit Reserves in the WPSL during the summer of 2016.
PERSONAL: Full name is Julia Paige Phillips รขโฌยฆ Born October 15, 1997 รขโฌยฆ Daughter of Brad and Tina Phillips รขโฌยฆ Has one brother, Tyler.
COACH MOTT QUOTE ON PHILLIPS: "Julia is a very good midfielder who can score with either foot. She's very good in the air and very good in possession. We're excited to bring her in so she can help strengthen our midfield. Getting her here this semester will certainly help her to play in the SEC."
Mary Kate Smith | Jr. | Midfielder | 5-4 | Ellisville, Miss. | Jones County JC
2016 (Sophomore - Jones County JC): NJCAA Division I Honorable Mention All-American and All-Region 23 performer รขโฌยฆ Scored 21 goals and recorded 18 assists totaling 60 points, second-most in the MACJC and Region 23, and 15th nationally รขโฌยฆ Helped the No. 11 Lady Bobcats to a 15-2 record, the MACJC/Region 23 Tournament Championship, and an appearance in the NJCAA District H playoffs รขโฌยฆ Scored two goals and was named the South team's MVP in the MACJC All-Star Game in November.
2015 (Freshman - Southern Miss): Played in all 19 contests for the Golden Eagles รขโฌยฆ Second on the team in points (8) after scoring two goals and leading the team in assists (4) รขโฌยฆ Scored in games at Nicholls (Aug. 28) and vs. UTEP (Oct. 18).
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered at South Jones High School in Ellisville, Mississippi ... Helped Braves to the playoffs each season ... Named first team all-district as a freshman, sophomore and junior ... Selected to the 2015 South All-Star team ... Also played football, earning second team all-region 3-5A honors ... Honor student and member of the Beta Club, Student Council and S.M.A.R.T. Club, while serving as class president.
CLUB/ODP: Played club with Gulf Coast United.
PERSONAL: Full name is Mary Kate Smith รขโฌยฆ Born June 15, 1997 รขโฌยฆ Daughter of Jesse and Jennifer Smith รขโฌยฆ Has one brother, Conner.
COACH MOTT QUOTE ON SMITH: "Mary Kate comes highly recommended from a number of coaches I respect. She's a hard-working, fast forward that can play also in midfield. Watching video on her, I think she's someone that could come in and help us right away. She comes to us from the same area as Sara Coleman, and there have been a lot of comparisons between the two. We look for her to be a very good player for us."
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.
