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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Matt Mott Weekly Press Conference
10/20/2020 | Soccer
Ole Miss Head Soccer Coach Recaps Auburn and Alabama, Previews Arkansas
Ole Miss Soccer Head Coach Matt Mott met with members of the media on Monday as part of his weekly press conference. Coach Mott recapped this past week's matches at Auburn and Alabama before previewing the next match against Arkansas.
Opening Statement…
"Again, it's kind of a crazy week for us. We had to play Auburn on Tuesday at Auburn as they had some COVID protocol issues, so we couldn't play the regularly scheduled Sunday. We lost 1-0 on a very late, three seconds left in double overtime, corner kick where we had an own goal, which was certainly disheartening and kind of backbreaker at that point. We really came together as a team, talked a lot about what we needed to do and what we were trying to do and how we're trying to play and bounced back with a great win Sunday in Tuscaloosa against Alabama.
"We had a goal early on. Taylor Radecki had a long throw that kind of bounced in the box and Channing Foster went up and headed it over the keeper. So, a great goal there and we played the rest of the half really well, we had a couple other good looks in the first half. In the second half we came out strong again, which is one of the things that we really talked about. Lucy Green, one of our freshmen, played it over to Ramsey Davis, another freshman, who laid it off to Mo O'Connor. Mo ripped one with her left foot and it deflected off one of their players and went in for our second goal and then we really saw the game out.
"I thought defensively we were really good. Ashley Orkus was excellent in goal, cut off a ton of crosses and had a brilliant save at the end to keep that clean sheet. I don't think many keepers in our league can make that save, so she's really playing at a high level. Our back line's starting to get sorted out. Price Loposer came in and did a really nice job for us in the back. Her and Lucy are two freshmen that are starting for us at wide-back and we do bring Chanel Thomas, our senior, in there sometimes as well. Madison Smith, Sydney Michalak and Sophie Dineen, all those guys did a really good job. Molly Martin and Taylor Radecki are also doing a great job holding down our midfield.
"I'm certainly happy with how we played yesterday, as we go forward it doesn't get any easier. We have three games left in the regular season and we're kind of right in the middle of the pack of the standings right now. We have Arkansas now coming to town. They are first in the West and tied for first overall in the league really. They're a really, really good team. They Won the league last year, made the SEC final last year, were a seeded team in the NCAA Tournament. They are a very difficult opponent. They have some great front player and are really dangerous with high tempo and high explosion. We are going to have our hands full. It's a big test for us, but we're excited we have them at home Sunday at three o'clock."
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.
