Ole Miss Travels to the Palmetto State to Face South Carolina

By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com

Sophomore goalkeeper Ashley Orkus recorded ten saves against Alabama. Photo by Hannah Johnson

Ole Miss soccer returns to the pitch this evening as they travel to Columbia, South Carolina to take on the Gamecocks. First kick is slated for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.

Ole Miss (8-4-3, 2-2-3 SEC) is coming off a 1-1 tie against Alabama last week in their lone match.

The Rebels goalkeeper Ashley Orkus had a career-high of 10 saves against the Crimson Tide.

Coach Matt Mott’s club is lead by junior forward Channing Foster with eight goals on the season. Her teammate Julia Phillips scored the goal (5) in the match.

South Carolina enters Thursday with an 11-1-2 overall record, remaining undefeated in SEC play at 5-0-2. Among the Gamecocks’ 11 wins are two over ranked sides in No. 21 NC State and No. 13 Arkansas. South Carolina’s lone loss of the season came in a 1-0 defeat to in-state rival No. 20 Clemson in September.

Junior midfielder Lauren Chang paces the Gamecocks with five goals on the season, while forwards Elexa Bahr and Ryan Gareis have each tallied four scores in 2019. Bahr has also dished out seven helpers to not only lead the Gamecocks in assists but also points with 15.

Samantha Chang is second on the team with four assists, while 12 players in total have registered at least one of South Carolina’s 26 assists. In goal, three-time All-SEC keeper Mikayla Krzeczowski has started all 14 matches, posting a paltry 0.43 GAA with a .786 save percentage in 1,255 minutes. However, the Carolina defense has limited Krzeczowski’s work, needing to make just 22 saves through 14 contests.

South Carolina leads the all-time series with Ole Miss 10-5-3, winning seven of the last 10 meetings.

Ole Miss has enjoyed little success when visiting Columbia. The Rebels enter Thursday’s clash with a 2-6-1 overall record against the Gamecocks in the Palmetto State.