Ole Miss midfielder Gretchen Harknett (14) tries to maintain ball possession from a Mississippi State player during an NCAA college soccer game against on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, in Oxford, MS. Ole Miss won 5-1. (The Daily Mississippian, Austin McAfee)
The Ole Miss soccer team will host the program’s first-ever home NCAA Tournament game tonight against in-state foe Jackson State.
“We’re certainly excited to get to keep playing this season and to keep playing at home,” Ole Miss head coach Matthew Mott said. “We’ve been building toward this since we got here as a staff, and these players have really bought into what we’re trying to do. This is another step forward as a program, and we have a chance to keep playing if we do the things we need to do Friday night.”
The Rebels (15-15-2) are clearly the favorites on paper, but Mott said he won’t let the name on the front of the jersey affect his team’s intensity level and focus.
Senior midfielder Mandy McCalla said the team “had a feeling they would get in” to the field of 64 and said the team is focusing on making Jackson State “play Ole Miss soccer,” and not the other way around.
Jackson State (10-9-2) found its way into the NCAA Tournament by virtue of winning the Southwestern Athletic Conference title on Sunday, beating Alabama State 1-0. Jackson State head coach Dean Joseph said the team is doing its best to enjoy the opportunity, particularly playing against an SEC opponent inside the state.
This is the Tigers’ second opportunity to play an in-state SEC squad this season, after falling 4-2 to Mississippi State during the regular season.
Freshman Jalana Ellis leads the team in scoring on the season, but the Tigers spread the ball around. Joseph said his staff has been happy that “a lot of different players have chipped in at different times.” Eleven Tigers have put the ball in the net this season.
Friday’s game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Admission to the game is $7 for adults and $5 for children and students.
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