The University of Mississippi Athletics

Matt Mott Weekly Press Conference

9/23/2019 | Soccer

Ole Miss Head Soccer Coach Recaps Missouri, Previews Mississippi State and Auburn

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 tie with Missouri before previewing Mississippi State and Auburn.

Opening Statementโ€ฆ
"We just opened SEC play on Friday. It was a really great match against Missouri. I'm really happy with the way we played. The game finished 1-1. We scored a goal just before halftime, Molly Martin off of a great pass by Channing Foster to make it 1-0. They equalized with about 10 minutes left in the game. Then we battled the rest of the game. In overtime we hit the woodwork about 7 times between the post and the cross bar, and their keeper made 12 saves, a career high for her. We had tons of chances, but we just couldn't finish one off. Really disappointing from that standpoint, but I was really happy with the way we played.
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"We defended really well. They have one of the best forwards in the league (Sarah Luebbert), and I thought we did a great job on her. Sydney Michalak, Grace Johnson, Madison Smith, and Maddy Houghton did a great job. And again great goal keeping by our entire goal keeping crew. I'm certainly really happy with how we've been doing back there.
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"Now we're on to State, it's State week. We have a two-game week this week. We play Mississippi State on Thursday and Auburn on Sunday. State is a very good team. They have a new coach that I have a lot of respect for. He's doing a great job down there, and is really energizing their fan base. They are a good looking team, style wise. They keep the ball. They pass the ball. They have some dangerous players. I think we are going to have our hands full on Thursday night. It's always difficult to play down there. We've certainly struggled in my time here, when we go down there. We've got to be ready to go on Thursday. We're going to need big time play out of our goal keeping in Ashley, and the back line and midfield. We've got to be at our best to handle business down there.
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"It doesn't make it any easier that we turn around on Sunday and play Auburn back here at home. I think they are one of the best coached teams in the conference. Obviously, I'm a little biased because I spent eleven years with Karen, but I think she's a fantastic coach. Their team will be ready. They are always very very difficult. They are right there in the middle of it (SEC Play) with everyone else, but it's early on so there's not a lot of separation yet. The league looks to be really strong this year. There are some great teams at the top and we're hoping to stay in the middle of it."

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 coachย Matt Mottย on Twitter atย @CoachMattMott.
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HIGHLIGHTS: 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