The University of Mississippi Athletics
Matt Mott Weekly Press Conference
9/18/2017 | Soccer
Ole Miss Soccer Head Coach Matthew Mott met with members of the media on Monday as part of his weekly press conference. Coach Mott recapped last Thursday's SEC opener at No. 7 Florida, and previewed this weekend's matches against Georgia (Thursday, 7 p.m., Oxford) and Arkansas (Sunday, 4 p.m., Fayetteville).
Opening Statementรขโฌยฆ
"We headed to Gainesville and played Florida as tough as we have played them since I have been the coach here. We lost 1-0 in a really good match. We gave up a goal early and then really battled to try and equalize, had a couple good looks at it, but couldn't find the goal. I'm happy with how the team played. I am not one for moral victories, but in that game I think we grew a lot. We had seven of 15 players who played where it was their first SEC game. We had Ella Johnson, Grace Johnson, Sophie Dineen, Channing Foster, Julia Phillips, Mary Kate Smith, Molly Martin and Chanel Thomas all get their first taste of the SEC and their first taste with the top team in Florida traditionally. We were supposed to play that following Sunday against Stetson, but that game got cancelled because of the hurricane so we came back. It was good for us to come back and recoup. We gave them both Saturday and Sunday off, which is the first time they had two days off since August 2nd. I think it was good for the team to get us back and rejuvenated and ready for a big weekend. We have our SEC home opener Thursday night at 7 p.m. against Georgia. They are a good team, very organized, with very good athletes. I have a lot of respect for their coach and they will be a good team for us on Thursday night. They beat us at Georgia last year 3-0, in a game where they really dominated us, so we need to be ready for them. Then we head on the road to Arkansas where we will play a very good Razorbacks team. They are very dangerous in the attack and tough to breakdown. Those guys do a great job up there in their system so we need to be ready for them, but overall I feel good about where the team is. We are pretty healthy and we need to get ready for a good weekend."
On if this is the best team he has had during his tenure at Ole Missรขโฌยฆ
"Yes I think so. The way we are playing, the style we are playing and the way we are defending, we have only given up two goals this year at this point, which is really good for us with 38 goals that we have scored. The production on both ends of the field is as solid as it has been. There have been years when we have been really good in the front or in the back, but I think this year I feel really good about both sides of the ball."
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.
