Rebels Soccer End Homestand Victorious

The Ole Miss soccer team took to the pitch on a picture perfect Sunday afternoon, defeating Louisville for a final score of 2-1 in the last match of a seven-game homestand for the Rebels (5-1-2).

“It really was a good victory. It was a complete game for us and I thought we played well on all three lines, especially after a tough, late-night game on Friday. To come back and play as hard as we did really makes me proud of the team,” said Ole Miss Head Coach Matthew Mott.

Freshman CeCe Kizer continued her hot streak and scored her seventh goal of the season, including her fourth game-winner, while junior Addie Forbus marked her fifth of 2015. Forbus also found Kizer for a late goal in the 83rd minute that propelled Ole Miss to the win.

“Forbus is dangerous when she gets in the box,” noted Coach Mott “She handles the ball well and really knows how to beat the goalkeepers. She has been really important for us so far this year. I am really happy for her to have gotten that one for us.”

The Rebels outshot Louisville (3-3-1) by nearly double in the match hitting a total of 14 compared to eight for the Cardinals. Goalkeeper Marnie Merritt tallied six saves on Louisville’s seven shots on goal. The redshirt freshman picked up the victory in goal, but notably received help from a back line that was healthy for the first time this season. After returning to the field Fridaynight for limited action, senior Maddie Friedmann notably made her first start of the season and played the entire 90-minutes of the match.

Ole Miss put the first goal on the board in the 34th minute of the opening half. Sara Coleman made the cross into the box to Gretchen Harknett, who quickly passed the ball to Forbus. The junior then sent the ball into the back of the net to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

Louisville fought back in the second half, tying the game with a goal from Allison Price in the 64th minute. The Cardinals’ Victoria Martinis used a corner kick to send the ball into the middle of the box, where Price put her foot on it to knot the game at one goal apiece.

The Rebels kept the attack going and with 11 minutes remaining, Harknett found Forbus on a run down the right side; however, Louisville made the save and prevented Ole Miss from converting the goal. In the 83rd minute, Forbus went back down the pitch for another run down the right side, this time crossing the ball to Kizer in the left side of the box. The freshman forward took a shot and blasted the ball past the goalkeeper into the right corner of the net.

“CeCe Kizer has been awesome,” mentioned Mott. “That goal she made today was classic. She was tired; she played in her first SEC game on Friday. She played a lot of that game, totaling 84 minutes. For her to come back and get that goal today is just awesome. She had a great ball from Addie Forbus and then the great goal to win the game. We really needed that.”

Up next, Ole Miss is back to conference play as the Rebels hit the road for the first time in nearly a month to take on the University of Florida, Sept. 18. The match will be a challenging test for the Rebels, facing a nationally-ranked team on the road.

“Florida is great. They are always tough to play,” said Mott. “We are going to go down there and play as hard as we can. You never know what can happen in the SEC. We didn’t play Florida last year, so it will be good to get back out there and play them.”

Ole Miss and Florida will square off under the lights Friday night at 6 p.m. Fans can tune into the action on SEC Network+.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Athletics