Ole Miss 3, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
The Ole Miss soccer team earned a 3-1 victory over Lousiana-Lafayette Friday night at the Ole Miss Soccer Complex. The Rebels improved to 2-0-1, while the Ragin’ Cajuns fell to 1-2-0.
“I thought we started really well and created a number of good chances,” Matthew Mott, Ole Miss head coach said. “They fought really hard.”
The offense finally broke through in minute 39 when junior forward and midfielder Addie Forbus notched her second goal of the season. Senior forward and midfielder Olivia Harrison sent in a cross from the right side and Forbus knocked it past the keeper on a half volley to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead.
“She got her head up, which I knew was my cue to make the run in, and she served a perfect ball and I was right there to finish it,” Forbus said.
The Rebels added to their lead in minute 48 when junior forward Danielle Gray ran unimpeded down the left side of the field and took a shot on goal. The Ragin’ Cajuns keeper made the save, but the rebound fell to freshman forward and defender CeCe Kizer and launched it through the defense and into the net to put the Rebels ahead 2-0.
The Rebels gave up their first goal of the season in minute 58 when ULL junior midfielder Kimberly Grasso curled a free kick from near the edge of the box past redshirt freshman goalkeeper Marnie Merritt.
Despite the goal, the defense played well again, only allowing the Ragin’ Cajuns to take one shot.
Junior midfielder Gretchen Harknett restored the Rebels’ two-goal lead in minute 64. She took a pass from senior midfielder Jennifer Miller at the left side of the box and rocketed it past the keeper and inside the near post.
Ole Miss 5, Austin Peay 0
Two goals from Kizer led the Rebels to a commanding 5-0 victory over the Austin Peay Governors Sunday afternoon. Ole Miss improved to 3-0-1 on the season, while Austin Peay fell to 1-2-0.
“The girls are playing well. We’re playing at a really high level,” Matthew Mott, Ole Miss head coach, said. “We’re moving the ball really quickly and creating good chances.”
Kizer got the Rebels on the board early. In the second minute, Forbus crossed the ball in from the right side and Miller took a shot. The rebound fell to Kizer, who poked it home to score in her third consecutive game.
In minute 58, Kizer received a pass from Harknett and finished past the keeper to notch her second goal of the night and fourth of the season.
“I saw a gap, so I made a run through and Gretchen [Harknett] played a perfect ball,” Kizer said. “I just touched it once and hit it second-time and it went in.”
In minute 18, Gray ran past her defender into the left side of the box and crossed the ball to a wide open Forbus at the net, and Forbus knocked it in for a 2-0 lead.
Senior defender Jessica Hiskey scored her first goal of the season in minute 31. She headed in a free kick from Gray to put the Rebels ahead 3-0.
Sophomore midfielder Bella Fiorenzo capped off the Rebels’ scoring in minute 86. She finished past the keeper after Miller pounced on a bad pass from the Governors goalkeeper and played it into the left side of the box.
The Rebel defense continued its strong run, holding the Governors to just four shots.
Ole Miss’ homestand continues Friday night against Central Florida, who advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
