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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Soccer Practice Report: Oct. 11
10/11/2020 | Soccer
<i class="icon-video"></i> Mott Interview<i class="icon-video"></i> Green Interview<i class="icon-video"></i> Dineen Interview
Rebs Looking to Rebound on the Road
OXFORD, Miss. – Looking to rebound from a tough 1-0 loss to Mississippi State in the annual battle for the Magnolia Cup last weekend, Ole Miss returns its attention back to the road, heading to Auburn for a Tuesday affair with the Tigers.
Earlier this week, head coach Matt Mott, freshman Lucy Green and senior Sophie Dineen sat down with our own Seth Austin to chat about the team's week of practice and the outlook of the match.
TAKING THE LID OFF
With one goal through three contests in 2020, one of the main struggles for Ole Miss through the early part of the season has been the inability to put the ball in the back of the net. Despite the lack of offensive output, Coach Mott has been pleased with the way his offensive unit has created chances, they just need to put them away.
"There's a lid on the goal for us right now and we can't seem to knock it off," said Mott. "We're getting chances, we're creating chances, we're moving the ball well, we're defending the ball well, there are a lot of things we're doing well but for whatever reason we're struggling to score. We've spent a lot of time on that this week and luckily we've gotten a little extra time this week… to be honest I'm happy with the amount of chances we're creating, we're just not scoring."
While the chances haven't been falling, the team is doing all it can to not let that effect the energy and effort on the pitch.
"The team is frustrated, the coaching staff is frustrated but we've got to keep going and keep working," said Mott. "With hard work hopefully good things will come and we'll be able to find the back of the net in the next game or so.
EXTRA TIME
Even in a season where only one match is played per week, the Rebels have had a little extra time to prepare for their matchup with Auburn after the match was postponed from Sunday to Tuesday. 2020 has been a year full of adapting to changes and Ole Miss is looking to use the situation to its advantage.
"It's good, good extra training… we're just trying to stay sharp and fresh," said Mott. "Training has been very good and very spirited. Obviously, you would think that coming off of the result last Friday night. We're happy with the team. They're really working hard and doing a great job with the testing, COVID and staying healthy. I'm happy with the way we're playing and the way we're training, we've just got to get the results going our way."
The few additional days between matches have allowed the players to get some extra rest and treatment. With the batteries recharged, the Rebs are looking to come out of the gates swinging against the Tigers.
"I think it's important that we come out fresh attacking them," said Dineen. "They've been out for a couple of days so I think that will be an advantage for us and coming out fresh is incredibly important.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
It may seem like just yesterday that a young Sophie Dineen made her Rebel debut in 2017, starting 15 times on the back line. A year later, the native Nebraskan bagged a goal she'll remember forever, scoring on No. 1 Stanford in the NCAA Tournament. Now a battle-tested senior, Dineen has become one of Ole Miss' most versatile players.
"Sophie can kind of do it all," said Mott. "She's played left back, she's played centerback, she's played holding midfielder and she's played left midfielder. She's got a great left foot. We say that about a lot of the seniors, it's kind of funny… she's a tough defender and she's a winner. She does everything right. Works really hard, does everything we ask her to do and is a great teammate. I think that's one of the biggest pluses about Sophie."
FRESHMAN IMPACT
Much like Dineen four years ago, Mississippi native Lucy Green has established herself as a fixture in the Rebel defense as a freshman. The reigning Mississippi Gatorade High School Player of the Year got the starting nod in her collegiate debut and has been a key cog in the Rebel back line right from the word go. It didn't take long for Mott and his staff to identify the Meridian product as a burgeoning star.
"She's a really great athlete, she's tough as nails, not afraid to kick anything or anybody, she goes hard into tackles and is really good in the air," said Mott. "She's coming on more and more and understanding her role. She's getting a lot of minutes and doing a good job for us on the back line. She's somebody that we're going to be able to rely on for a number of years… she doesn't look like a freshman out in the back."
TRIAL BY FIRE
The adjustment from high school and club competition to the college game is always a difficult one for young players. However, the challenge has been magnified this year with the lack of a non-conference schedule, charging youngsters with the task of matching up with some of the best talent the nation has to offer in the SEC. For Green and the rest of the Rebel freshman class, the jump up in competition has not gone unnoticed but with each passing game the game begins to slow down.
"It's definitely been very different," said Green. "The SEC is very fast and definitely very tough. Going straight into it without any preseason games was hard but I feel like with each game we improve and get more and more comfortable, which is a great thing."
One advantage for Ole Miss during the uncommon circumstances is a veteran group that is well aware of what it's like taking on a prominent role early in their career. Ole Miss had four players start at least 12 matches as freshmen in 2017. Now an experienced group of seniors, those players are doing what they can to impart their wisdom on their younger teammates and take them under their wing.
"I remember being very overwhelmed," said Dineen. "I can't even imagine how these freshmen feel going straight into the SEC. I really leaned on the upperclassmen and they really helped me build and get better. I hope that's what we're doing for them too."
HOMEGROWN TALENT
In recent years Ole Miss hasn't had to travel too far when adding to its roster with young talent, often remaining within the state's borders. The Rebels currently boast six Mississippi natives on the roster, including including Green, Price Loposer, Ellie Muirhead, Lonnie Mulligan, Mo O'Connor, and Jillian Rhian. Playing in their home state and serving as inspiration for the younger generation is not something these players take for granted.
"Youth soccer here is getting a lot better," said Green. "I think I had a great foundation with my club at home in Meridian. I hope that a lot of other kids will participate in youth soccer and want to play at a higher level like all of us did."
THE APPRENTICE
Tuesday's meeting between Ole Miss and Auburn will be reuniting of old friends, as Rebel gaffer Matt Mott and Tiger head coach Karen Hoppa meet on the sideline once again. Mott and Hoppa are well acquainted with each other, with Mott serving as a long-time assistant coach on Hoppa's staffs at UCF and Auburn before taking over the Rebel program in 2010.
"I can't have enough respect for Karen," said Mott. "She really gave me my start in the profession and I worked with her for 11 years. I think she's a top-level coach and one of the best in the country and has been for a long time. Her teams are always super prepared, hard-working and tough. It will be hard. It'll be a one goal game down there like it always is. A very, very difficult game for us for sure."
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.
Earlier this week, head coach Matt Mott, freshman Lucy Green and senior Sophie Dineen sat down with our own Seth Austin to chat about the team's week of practice and the outlook of the match.
TAKING THE LID OFF
With one goal through three contests in 2020, one of the main struggles for Ole Miss through the early part of the season has been the inability to put the ball in the back of the net. Despite the lack of offensive output, Coach Mott has been pleased with the way his offensive unit has created chances, they just need to put them away.
"There's a lid on the goal for us right now and we can't seem to knock it off," said Mott. "We're getting chances, we're creating chances, we're moving the ball well, we're defending the ball well, there are a lot of things we're doing well but for whatever reason we're struggling to score. We've spent a lot of time on that this week and luckily we've gotten a little extra time this week… to be honest I'm happy with the amount of chances we're creating, we're just not scoring."
While the chances haven't been falling, the team is doing all it can to not let that effect the energy and effort on the pitch.
"The team is frustrated, the coaching staff is frustrated but we've got to keep going and keep working," said Mott. "With hard work hopefully good things will come and we'll be able to find the back of the net in the next game or so.
EXTRA TIME
Even in a season where only one match is played per week, the Rebels have had a little extra time to prepare for their matchup with Auburn after the match was postponed from Sunday to Tuesday. 2020 has been a year full of adapting to changes and Ole Miss is looking to use the situation to its advantage.
"It's good, good extra training… we're just trying to stay sharp and fresh," said Mott. "Training has been very good and very spirited. Obviously, you would think that coming off of the result last Friday night. We're happy with the team. They're really working hard and doing a great job with the testing, COVID and staying healthy. I'm happy with the way we're playing and the way we're training, we've just got to get the results going our way."
The few additional days between matches have allowed the players to get some extra rest and treatment. With the batteries recharged, the Rebs are looking to come out of the gates swinging against the Tigers.
"I think it's important that we come out fresh attacking them," said Dineen. "They've been out for a couple of days so I think that will be an advantage for us and coming out fresh is incredibly important.
JACK OF ALL TRADES
It may seem like just yesterday that a young Sophie Dineen made her Rebel debut in 2017, starting 15 times on the back line. A year later, the native Nebraskan bagged a goal she'll remember forever, scoring on No. 1 Stanford in the NCAA Tournament. Now a battle-tested senior, Dineen has become one of Ole Miss' most versatile players.
"Sophie can kind of do it all," said Mott. "She's played left back, she's played centerback, she's played holding midfielder and she's played left midfielder. She's got a great left foot. We say that about a lot of the seniors, it's kind of funny… she's a tough defender and she's a winner. She does everything right. Works really hard, does everything we ask her to do and is a great teammate. I think that's one of the biggest pluses about Sophie."
FRESHMAN IMPACT
Much like Dineen four years ago, Mississippi native Lucy Green has established herself as a fixture in the Rebel defense as a freshman. The reigning Mississippi Gatorade High School Player of the Year got the starting nod in her collegiate debut and has been a key cog in the Rebel back line right from the word go. It didn't take long for Mott and his staff to identify the Meridian product as a burgeoning star.
"She's a really great athlete, she's tough as nails, not afraid to kick anything or anybody, she goes hard into tackles and is really good in the air," said Mott. "She's coming on more and more and understanding her role. She's getting a lot of minutes and doing a good job for us on the back line. She's somebody that we're going to be able to rely on for a number of years… she doesn't look like a freshman out in the back."
TRIAL BY FIRE
The adjustment from high school and club competition to the college game is always a difficult one for young players. However, the challenge has been magnified this year with the lack of a non-conference schedule, charging youngsters with the task of matching up with some of the best talent the nation has to offer in the SEC. For Green and the rest of the Rebel freshman class, the jump up in competition has not gone unnoticed but with each passing game the game begins to slow down.
"It's definitely been very different," said Green. "The SEC is very fast and definitely very tough. Going straight into it without any preseason games was hard but I feel like with each game we improve and get more and more comfortable, which is a great thing."
One advantage for Ole Miss during the uncommon circumstances is a veteran group that is well aware of what it's like taking on a prominent role early in their career. Ole Miss had four players start at least 12 matches as freshmen in 2017. Now an experienced group of seniors, those players are doing what they can to impart their wisdom on their younger teammates and take them under their wing.
"I remember being very overwhelmed," said Dineen. "I can't even imagine how these freshmen feel going straight into the SEC. I really leaned on the upperclassmen and they really helped me build and get better. I hope that's what we're doing for them too."
HOMEGROWN TALENT
In recent years Ole Miss hasn't had to travel too far when adding to its roster with young talent, often remaining within the state's borders. The Rebels currently boast six Mississippi natives on the roster, including including Green, Price Loposer, Ellie Muirhead, Lonnie Mulligan, Mo O'Connor, and Jillian Rhian. Playing in their home state and serving as inspiration for the younger generation is not something these players take for granted.
"Youth soccer here is getting a lot better," said Green. "I think I had a great foundation with my club at home in Meridian. I hope that a lot of other kids will participate in youth soccer and want to play at a higher level like all of us did."
THE APPRENTICE
Tuesday's meeting between Ole Miss and Auburn will be reuniting of old friends, as Rebel gaffer Matt Mott and Tiger head coach Karen Hoppa meet on the sideline once again. Mott and Hoppa are well acquainted with each other, with Mott serving as a long-time assistant coach on Hoppa's staffs at UCF and Auburn before taking over the Rebel program in 2010.
"I can't have enough respect for Karen," said Mott. "She really gave me my start in the profession and I worked with her for 11 years. I think she's a top-level coach and one of the best in the country and has been for a long time. Her teams are always super prepared, hard-working and tough. It will be hard. It'll be a one goal game down there like it always is. A very, very difficult game for us for sure."
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.
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