The University of Mississippi Athletics
Matt Mott Weekly Press Conference
8/26/2019 | Soccer
Ole Miss Head Soccer Coach Recaps North Alabama and Memphis, Previews Southeast Missouri and Minnesota
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 week's results against North Alabama and Memphis before previewing the Rebel Classic to be held this week in Oxford.
Opening Statementโฆ
"The game last Thursday versus North Alabama went well. We beat them 2-0 at home. Great home crowd, great opener, lots of energy. I was excited about the community support, it was great. We went up (Sunday) night and played at Memphis. That's always a really good game that's difficult and always a one-goal game either way. Unfortunately, we came out on the short end. We battled, scored first and got a good goal, a Channing Foster setup to Julia Phillips. Then we gave up a penalty just before halftime and then went scoreless into the 88th minute. They served the ball in and we had a poor clearance that went in for an own goal. We went down 2-1 and pushed everybody forward and gave up a late one with 20 seconds to go after we had kind of thrown everybody forward on the corner. Disappointing certainly because I thought we had enough of the game to get something out of it. I really thought we were going to overtime, but just unfortunate on that mistake. We've got to dust ourselves off and get ready for a big and great weekend here in Oxford.
We have Southeast Missouri State and Minnesota coming, and actually Arkansas is coming to play in a four-team tournament. We will play SEMO and Minnesota, and Arkansas will play both of them also. A lot of great soccer (will be played) on the field Thursday and Sunday. We'd certainly love to see you guys out there. I was happy our goalkeeper (Ashley Orkus) has been playing very well, actually pretty great. The stat line doesn't show that, but she made a couple of really good saves for us. Our backline of Sydney Michalak, Maddy Houghton, Madison Smith, and Chanel Thomas did a really good job for us as well out there. We're off and running."
On where the offense should come from this seasonโฆ
"Channing Foster is obviously back, a two-time All-SEC Player. She's doing well, she scored in the opener and set up one Sunday night. Mo O'Connor, the Oxford freshman, is doing well for us. She also scored in the exhibition game and scored one against North Alabama, so we're excited about her. Madisyn Pezzino is another forward that does a good job for us (along with) Molly Martin. They are all going to carry most of the load up front for us, but we've got to share the ball, we've got to get it to different places, we've got to get it on set pieces and hopefully score on corner kicks, and those types of things."
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Soccer on Twitter atย @OleMissSoccer, on Facebook atย Facebook.com/OleMissSoccer, and on Instagram atย Instagram.com/officialolemisssoccer. Also follow head coach Matt Mott on Twitter atย @CoachMattMott.
ย
Opening Statementโฆ
"The game last Thursday versus North Alabama went well. We beat them 2-0 at home. Great home crowd, great opener, lots of energy. I was excited about the community support, it was great. We went up (Sunday) night and played at Memphis. That's always a really good game that's difficult and always a one-goal game either way. Unfortunately, we came out on the short end. We battled, scored first and got a good goal, a Channing Foster setup to Julia Phillips. Then we gave up a penalty just before halftime and then went scoreless into the 88th minute. They served the ball in and we had a poor clearance that went in for an own goal. We went down 2-1 and pushed everybody forward and gave up a late one with 20 seconds to go after we had kind of thrown everybody forward on the corner. Disappointing certainly because I thought we had enough of the game to get something out of it. I really thought we were going to overtime, but just unfortunate on that mistake. We've got to dust ourselves off and get ready for a big and great weekend here in Oxford.
We have Southeast Missouri State and Minnesota coming, and actually Arkansas is coming to play in a four-team tournament. We will play SEMO and Minnesota, and Arkansas will play both of them also. A lot of great soccer (will be played) on the field Thursday and Sunday. We'd certainly love to see you guys out there. I was happy our goalkeeper (Ashley Orkus) has been playing very well, actually pretty great. The stat line doesn't show that, but she made a couple of really good saves for us. Our backline of Sydney Michalak, Maddy Houghton, Madison Smith, and Chanel Thomas did a really good job for us as well out there. We're off and running."
On where the offense should come from this seasonโฆ
"Channing Foster is obviously back, a two-time All-SEC Player. She's doing well, she scored in the opener and set up one Sunday night. Mo O'Connor, the Oxford freshman, is doing well for us. She also scored in the exhibition game and scored one against North Alabama, so we're excited about her. Madisyn Pezzino is another forward that does a good job for us (along with) Molly Martin. They are all going to carry most of the load up front for us, but we've got to share the ball, we've got to get it to different places, we've got to get it on set pieces and hopefully score on corner kicks, and those types of things."
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Soccer on Twitter atย @OleMissSoccer, on Facebook atย Facebook.com/OleMissSoccer, and on Instagram atย Instagram.com/officialolemisssoccer. Also follow head coach Matt Mott on Twitter atย @CoachMattMott.
ย
Players Mentioned
F/MF
/ Soccer
D/MF
/ Soccer
MF/F
/ Soccer
D/F
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
GK
/ Soccer
F
/ Soccer
MF
/ Soccer
D
/ Soccer
D
/ 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