The University of Mississippi Athletics
Matt Mott Weekly Press Conference
9/25/2017 | 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 this past weekend's wins over Georgia and Arkansas, and previewed Friday's matchup against No. 3 South Carolina (7 p.m., SECN+).
Opening Statementรขโฌยฆ
"It's been a very good week for us. Anytime you can win two games in the SEC in a weekend is a great win. Our league is so tough and competitive. We have nine teams in the top 40 RPI right now and 13 or 14 in the top 100. It is a really difficult league and every game is tough. I'm really happy with the way the team played. We started out on Thursday against Georgia and beat them 4-1. We started with some really good goals, CeCe Kizer set up Channing Foster for the first goal, then Julia Phillips with the second goal also set up by CeCe Kizer. We had a corner kick goal from Grace Johnson and then CeCe Kizer capped off the fourth goal. It was a really complete game for us on Thursday night against a good Georgia team. Georgia is a team that keeps the ball on the ground and tries to pass the ball, so we were able to play them with our style and the way that we like to play. It was a very good soccer game and a great performance from our attack. On Sunday we played the exact opposite against Arkansas. They are a team that battles and fights. They want the ball bouncing and long throws and corner kicks. It was a really chaotic game and our girls battled like crazy, making it maybe the best we have ever played Arkansas dealing with their style. We credit our back line and goalkeeper; they were phenomenal in the game. Ella Johnson and Grace Johnson, our two centerbacks, had to do a lot of heading in the game and a lot of clearing along with Liza Harbin and Sophie Dineen. They played all 90 minutes in the back with Marnie Merritt. They were all dominant throughout the day. CeCe Kizer had another great goal in the 30th minute of the game to take the lead and then we battled. It was an extremely hot Sunday afternoon in Arkansas and I am happy to come away with a win. I'm really happy with the way we defended Thursday night. It was about playing soccer and passing the ball and being dangerous. Sunday was about fighting and battling and scrapping and we were able to get the win. Arkansas didn't have a shot on goal, and that is a big credit at their home field with a team that is really dominant in scoring. To keep them without a shot on goal was huge for us. I'm very happy where we are in the RPI right now. But, we have seven big games to go. None bigger than this Friday night at home against South Carolina who is number 1 (in the RPI) and number two or three in the rankings when they come out tomorrow. South Carolina is an extremely talented team. They have one of the top players in our league, Savannah McCaskill, who plays up front. She is very dangerous as a U-20 national team captain. South Carolina is extremely well coached. I have a lot of respect for them and they have been doing it well for a long time. They are first in the league with three wins, the only team 3-0 in the league. We have to be ready for South Carolina, a very organized and tough team. I am certainly excited to play them at home."
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.
