The University of Mississippi Athletics
Matt Mott Weekly Press Conference
9/17/2018 | Soccer
Ole Miss Head Soccer Coach Recaps Alabama and Memphis, Previews Tennessee and Auburn
Opening statementโฆ
"A very good game for us on Thursday. It seems like forever ago, but a game Thursday night in Tuscaloosa. Our team came out really energized and playing at a very good level. We got a goal with ten seconds left to go before halftime on a corner kick that Madison Smith served in. Grace Johnson headed back across to Molly Martin and she just jumped over everybody to score a great goal. We then held on to play really well defensively. We had a couple other good looks, on another day we might get another one, maybe two. Then, we just really held on there for the last twenty minutes as you're going to do with a one goal lead in the SEC. Marnie Merritt made some fantastic saves and we had really good play from our back line. Grace Johnson was great, Channel Thomas, Mary Kate Smith and Madison Smith all did really well. Ella Frischknecht came in and gave us really great minutes off the bench as well. So, I was happy with that. Then we came back home and lost a really disappointing game to Memphis last night. They really handled us. They had a good game plan and we didn't adjust well. Certainly, disappointed in the loss to Memphis but all the credit goes to them on a very good performance. Now, it doesn't get any easier as we welcome No. 11 Tennessee coming off of a loss to South Carolina in their opener to SEC play. They are very good, very talented, very dangerous up front, we will have to be very good defensively. Then we head to Auburn which they are No. 9 in the country right now and will probably be moving up. They opened up 1-0 against Mississippi State and then won a game yesterday against Alabama State. They are very dangerous, have a number of weapons and are playing really well. That will be a difficult game for us on Sunday. We are looking forward to those two matches and getting into full swing with SEC play as our non-conference season is over. Now it's all about trying to find points to get ourselves to Orange Beach to the SEC tournament. We have nine games left, and I am glad we are 1-0 and have three points, but we have two big matches we are looking at this weekend."
On what tactically led to Sunday's performance against Memphisโฆ
"I think the first thing is they came out flying at us. We weren't really prepared for it and they caught us on our back heels. They scored a goal three minutes in which really energized them. We couldn't get ahold of the ball. We have been very good in possession and last night we were not. I think our energy level was not where it needed to be and I take responsibility for that. I think they really pressed us in good spots and won the ball in good areas for them. Then, when they scored the second one with twenty minutes to go, that made it really tough for us. We chased the game in the first half. We came out in the second half and decided to press them some. We had some good success and some good looks, but just couldn't find the equalizer and when they went up 2-0 it made it real hard."
"A very good game for us on Thursday. It seems like forever ago, but a game Thursday night in Tuscaloosa. Our team came out really energized and playing at a very good level. We got a goal with ten seconds left to go before halftime on a corner kick that Madison Smith served in. Grace Johnson headed back across to Molly Martin and she just jumped over everybody to score a great goal. We then held on to play really well defensively. We had a couple other good looks, on another day we might get another one, maybe two. Then, we just really held on there for the last twenty minutes as you're going to do with a one goal lead in the SEC. Marnie Merritt made some fantastic saves and we had really good play from our back line. Grace Johnson was great, Channel Thomas, Mary Kate Smith and Madison Smith all did really well. Ella Frischknecht came in and gave us really great minutes off the bench as well. So, I was happy with that. Then we came back home and lost a really disappointing game to Memphis last night. They really handled us. They had a good game plan and we didn't adjust well. Certainly, disappointed in the loss to Memphis but all the credit goes to them on a very good performance. Now, it doesn't get any easier as we welcome No. 11 Tennessee coming off of a loss to South Carolina in their opener to SEC play. They are very good, very talented, very dangerous up front, we will have to be very good defensively. Then we head to Auburn which they are No. 9 in the country right now and will probably be moving up. They opened up 1-0 against Mississippi State and then won a game yesterday against Alabama State. They are very dangerous, have a number of weapons and are playing really well. That will be a difficult game for us on Sunday. We are looking forward to those two matches and getting into full swing with SEC play as our non-conference season is over. Now it's all about trying to find points to get ourselves to Orange Beach to the SEC tournament. We have nine games left, and I am glad we are 1-0 and have three points, but we have two big matches we are looking at this weekend."
On what tactically led to Sunday's performance against Memphisโฆ
"I think the first thing is they came out flying at us. We weren't really prepared for it and they caught us on our back heels. They scored a goal three minutes in which really energized them. We couldn't get ahold of the ball. We have been very good in possession and last night we were not. I think our energy level was not where it needed to be and I take responsibility for that. I think they really pressed us in good spots and won the ball in good areas for them. Then, when they scored the second one with twenty minutes to go, that made it really tough for us. We chased the game in the first half. We came out in the second half and decided to press them some. We had some good success and some good looks, but just couldn't find the equalizer and when they went up 2-0 it made it real hard."
Players Mentioned
D
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
D/MF
/ SoccerHIGHLIGHTS: Soccer vs. Kentucky (10/10/25)
Friday, October 10
Walk-and-Talk with Ole Miss Soccer: Sidney O'Billovich
Friday, October 10
Walk-and-Talk with Ole Miss Soccer: Briana Rodriguez
Friday, October 10
Walk-and-Talk with Ole Miss Soccer: Katie Ramsden
Friday, October 10