The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
10-4-3 (3-4-2SEC)
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Mississippi State
8-4-4 (2-4-3SEC)
Ole Miss Soccer Battles to Magnolia Cup Draw
10/22/2017 | Soccer
Box Score | Highlights | Mary Kate Smith Interview | Matt Mott Interview
STARKVILLE, Miss. - After entering the halftime break down 1-0 to rival Mississippi State (8-4-4, 2-4-3 SEC), Ole Miss (10-4-3, 3-4-2 SEC) picked up the pace in the second half, battling back for a 1-1 draw to earn an important SEC point with just one match to go in the regular season.
After 110 minutes, the action ended up fairly even with Mississippi State owning a slight 20-17 advantage in shots. Rebel goalkeeper Marnie Merritt came up huge time after time, making nine saves on the night, one off of her career-high.
While Ole Miss created a few dangerous situations in the first 45 minutes, it was the Bulldogs who entered the break up 1-0. After earning a corner kick in the 36th minute, a dangerous cross was whipped in and Brooke McKee got on the end of it, sending the ball across the face of goal and in.
If not for the play of Merritt, the deficit could have been even greater for the Rebels. The junior keeper made four saves in the first half, including a big stop on a McKee effort in the 27th minute.
Whereas Mississippi State controlled much of the pace in the first half, the Rebels began to put some pressure on the Bulldog backline in the second stanza.
After a number of chances went just awry for Ole Miss, Gabby Little and CeCe Kizer combined to tie the score in the 70th minute. Little drove down the left wing and found Kizer open at the top of the 18-yard box. Kizer used a shimmy to create a little space and tucked her shot into the bottom corner.
Just moments later, Mississippi State nearly struck right back on a header by Khalyn Harmon but Merritt was able to make an acrobatic leaping save to keep the score tied. Merritt again came up huge just a few minute later, smothering a direct free kick from just outside the box.
Ole Miss stayed on the front foot for the closing minutes of the half but at the end of regulation the score remained 1-1 and the two sides headed for overtime.
With the clouds opening up during overtime, bringing heavy rain down on the pitch, both teams created some decent chances. Carly Mauldin had perhaps the best chance, sending a rocket in the 118th minute that seemed destined for the upper 90. However, Merritt was having none of it, diving to her left and punching the shot away as the two teams settled for a 1-1 draw.
Kickers
- With the draw Ole Miss retains the Magnolia Cup, which has called Oxford its home since 2013.
- Sunday's match was the second-straight overtime match for Ole Miss and the third of the season for the Rebels.
- The Rebels have drawn all three of their matches that have gone beyond 90 minutes.
- CeCe Kizer's goal was her 16th of the season, extending her SEC lead.
- That total is tied for the fourth most in a single season in program history.
- Marnie Merritt has made at least five saves in each of her last three matches.
Up Next
Ole Miss turns its attention to Thursday's regular season finale against Alabama. The match, set for 7 p.m. at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, is Senior Day in Oxford.
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.
Team Stats
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Brooke McKee (8)
Assisted By: Mallory Eubanks
McKee scores on the pass by Eubanks.
35:42
CeCe Kizer (16)
Assisted By: Gabby Little
Kizer scores on the pass by Little.
69:11
