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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Recapping Soccer’s Historic 2018 Season
11/21/2018 | Soccer
Taking a look back at all the highlights from a successful season in Oxford
OXFORD, Miss. – The ninth season under head coach Matt Mott was a memorable one for Ole Miss soccer, exceeding the expectations that most everyone, aside from themselves, had set before they year started.
After being picked to finish seventh in the league table in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Rebels shook things up with a 6-3-1 SEC record, finishing tied for third.
Along the way, the Rebs picked up some big results. Ole Miss took both of its first two conference road matchups, including a thrilling 3-2 victory over previously undefeated No. 9 Auburn on The Plains. Ole Miss also earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against No. 5 Texas A&M and capped off the regular season with a Magnolia Cup win against No. 25 Mississippi State before handing seventh-ranked and SEC Champion Vanderbilt its only loss in league play.
With the strong finish, the Rebels locked up a second-consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels were road warriors in the first round, upending No. 25 Clemson on their home turf to earn a date with defending national champion and top-ranked Stanford in California. Ole Miss gave the Cardinal all it could handle, taking Stanford into halftime tied at a goal apiece before falling in the second half to cap a historic season.
See below for more highlights from the 2018 season.
Season Kickers
• Ole Miss' third-place finish in the SEC table is tied for the best league finish for the Rebels since garnering second-place in 2005.
• The four wins over top-25 opponents is a school-record. Ole Miss concluded the season with a 4-2-1 mark against ranked opponents.
• Ole Miss earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever, the eighth overall appearance for the Rebels and fourth during the Matt Mott era. The Rebels advanced to the Second Round for the fourth time in Ole Miss-history.
• The Rebels retained the Magnolia Cup with a 2-0 victory over rival Mississippi State. Ole Miss has maintained the trophy for the past five seasons, the longest run for either side.
• In the win over the Bulldogs, a new Ole Miss Soccer Stadium attendance record was set with 1,857 fans filling the stands.
• The senior class of Marnie Merritt, CeCe Kizer, Marisa Kutchma, Mary Kate Smith, Ella Frischknecht and Tara Sullivan wrapped up their collegiate careers. The senior class amassed 46 wins, earned three NCAA Tournament appearances and never lost to Mississippi State or Auburn.
Individual Kickers
• Ole Miss placed three players on the All-SEC squads, with CeCe Kizer garnering her third First Team selection, Channing Foster being tabbed Second Team for the second-straight season and Haleigh Stackpole landing on the All-Freshman team.
• Kizer led the SEC in goals, assists and points during the regular season, becoming just the second player in the history of the SEC to do so.
• In Ole Miss' 3-2 victory at No. 9 Auburn, Kizer scored twice in the second half to break the school-records for career goals and points. The senior concluded her career with 48 goals and 119 points.
• Kizer's 23 career assists is tied with Mandy McCalla and Regan Scanlon for the third most in program-history.
• Kizer's 23 career assists is tied with Mandy McCalla and Regan Scanlon for the third most in program-history.
• Kizer was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and earned CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District recognition.
• Despite have her senior season cut short due to injury, goalkeeper Marnie Merritt finished her career ranked second in Ole Miss-history in wins and saves as well as third in career shutouts.
• Kutchma was named to the SEC Community Service Team and was a finalist for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship.
• Foster ranked second on the team with eight goals on the season, ranking sixth in the SEC. The sophomore's five goals in league play was tied for third most.
• Stackpole scored five goals during her rookie campaign but saved her scoring for the big moments, recording four game-winners.
• Ole Miss had five players named SEC Player of the Week, tied for the most in a single season for the Rebels. Kizer was named offensive player of the week, while Merritt, Grace Johnson and Morgan McAslan pulled in defensive honors and Stackpole earned a freshman of the week nod.
• During the weeks they were honored, Kizer and Johnson were also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week, with Kizer receiving National Player of the Week laurels after the opening week of the season.
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.
After being picked to finish seventh in the league table in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Rebels shook things up with a 6-3-1 SEC record, finishing tied for third.
Along the way, the Rebs picked up some big results. Ole Miss took both of its first two conference road matchups, including a thrilling 3-2 victory over previously undefeated No. 9 Auburn on The Plains. Ole Miss also earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against No. 5 Texas A&M and capped off the regular season with a Magnolia Cup win against No. 25 Mississippi State before handing seventh-ranked and SEC Champion Vanderbilt its only loss in league play.
With the strong finish, the Rebels locked up a second-consecutive bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Rebels were road warriors in the first round, upending No. 25 Clemson on their home turf to earn a date with defending national champion and top-ranked Stanford in California. Ole Miss gave the Cardinal all it could handle, taking Stanford into halftime tied at a goal apiece before falling in the second half to cap a historic season.
See below for more highlights from the 2018 season.
Season Kickers
• Ole Miss' third-place finish in the SEC table is tied for the best league finish for the Rebels since garnering second-place in 2005.
• The four wins over top-25 opponents is a school-record. Ole Miss concluded the season with a 4-2-1 mark against ranked opponents.
• Ole Miss earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever, the eighth overall appearance for the Rebels and fourth during the Matt Mott era. The Rebels advanced to the Second Round for the fourth time in Ole Miss-history.
• The Rebels retained the Magnolia Cup with a 2-0 victory over rival Mississippi State. Ole Miss has maintained the trophy for the past five seasons, the longest run for either side.
• In the win over the Bulldogs, a new Ole Miss Soccer Stadium attendance record was set with 1,857 fans filling the stands.
• The senior class of Marnie Merritt, CeCe Kizer, Marisa Kutchma, Mary Kate Smith, Ella Frischknecht and Tara Sullivan wrapped up their collegiate careers. The senior class amassed 46 wins, earned three NCAA Tournament appearances and never lost to Mississippi State or Auburn.
Individual Kickers
• Ole Miss placed three players on the All-SEC squads, with CeCe Kizer garnering her third First Team selection, Channing Foster being tabbed Second Team for the second-straight season and Haleigh Stackpole landing on the All-Freshman team.
• Kizer led the SEC in goals, assists and points during the regular season, becoming just the second player in the history of the SEC to do so.
• In Ole Miss' 3-2 victory at No. 9 Auburn, Kizer scored twice in the second half to break the school-records for career goals and points. The senior concluded her career with 48 goals and 119 points.
• Kizer's 23 career assists is tied with Mandy McCalla and Regan Scanlon for the third most in program-history.
• Kizer's 23 career assists is tied with Mandy McCalla and Regan Scanlon for the third most in program-history.
• Kizer was named a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and earned CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District recognition.
• Despite have her senior season cut short due to injury, goalkeeper Marnie Merritt finished her career ranked second in Ole Miss-history in wins and saves as well as third in career shutouts.
• Kutchma was named to the SEC Community Service Team and was a finalist for the prestigious Marshall Scholarship.
• Foster ranked second on the team with eight goals on the season, ranking sixth in the SEC. The sophomore's five goals in league play was tied for third most.
• Stackpole scored five goals during her rookie campaign but saved her scoring for the big moments, recording four game-winners.
• Ole Miss had five players named SEC Player of the Week, tied for the most in a single season for the Rebels. Kizer was named offensive player of the week, while Merritt, Grace Johnson and Morgan McAslan pulled in defensive honors and Stackpole earned a freshman of the week nod.
• During the weeks they were honored, Kizer and Johnson were also named to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Team of the Week, with Kizer receiving National Player of the Week laurels after the opening week of the season.
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.
Players Mentioned
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