Ole Miss came away with an important victory over No. 9 Auburn on Sunday, with a final score of 3-2. Despite conceding the night’s first goal and falling behind 1-0, Ole Miss quickly responded with a goal from Channing Foster less than two minutes later.
Forward midfielder CeCe Kizer kicks the ball during a game versus Murray State University. Photo by Jeanne Torp
The next two Ole Miss goals were goals for the record books. CeCe Kizer entered Sunday’s game one goal away from tying the all-time goal-scoring record at Ole Miss, and in the 46th minute, the senior did just that to give the Rebels a 2-1 lead. After an Auburn equalizer, Kizer would come up clutch once again in the 78th minute to give the Rebels the victory and break the all-time school record for points scored.
Kizer’s record-breaking journey began in 2015, when she scored 14 goals in 23 games, and continued in her sophomore and junior seasons, during which she put up a combined tally of 21 goals, giving her 35 total goals scored heading into her senior season. Now, just 12 games into the season, Kizer sits all alone at the top of the record list.
She broke Rafaelle Souza’s record for career goals scored, which was set in 2013, and Kizer’s goals couldn’t have come at a better time for the Rebels.
Ole Miss went into the Auburn game riding a two-game losing streak and needing a signature win to get the team back on track. Besides ensuring the victory, the goals were important for reigniting the Rebels’ offense, which had been struggling lately. The Rebels scored more goals against Auburn than they have in their last three games combined.
Foster’s goal was her fourth of the season, while Kizer’s record-breakers were a team-leading 10th and 11th.
The win over Auburn gave Ole Miss its second SEC victory this season, bringing them to 2-1 in conference play. Ole Miss has now won both of its away SEC games.
Senior goalkeeper Marnie Merritt played her third consecutive game with at least four saves, and the Ole Miss defense held Auburn to nine shots, which is noteworthy, considering Auburn had 25 shots in its last match versus LSU.
Ole Miss handed Auburn its first loss of the season and became the only team thus far to have scored three goals on the Tigers’ defense this season.
Ole Miss now sits at an 8-4 season record, and its next match is at 7 p.m. Friday at home versus No. 1 Texas A&M.
