Senior forward Addie Forbus looks downfield during Ole Miss’ win over ULL Friday night. Forbus kicked off her final season as a rebel with a bang scoring two of the three goals. (Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
It was Addie Forbus’ world tonight, and the UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns were living in it. The Ole Miss forward scored her first of two goals inside the minute mark as she took advantage of confusion around the UL-Lafayette box and rounded the diving keeper, Mackenzie Lee, to slot it home. For Forbus, it only takes one opportunity to make a difference.
“I saw my chance to break through the back line,” Forbus said.
The goal was Forbus’ first of the season, but it would not be her last of the evening. Just over 14 minutes later, CeCe Kizer, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year, sliced through the middle of the UL-Lafayette defense and played a diagonal ball to Forbus, who used a bit of trickery on the turn to leave her defender wondering what day of the week it was. She then focused on goal and fired a laser into the left side netting to make it 2-0.
The Rebels still weren’t done. Just over a minute after coming onto the field, Bella Fiorenzo received the ball from Mackenze Parma, turned towards the UL-Lafayette goal, and unleashed a wicked 30-some yard strike that hit the left upper-90 in the 36th minute. Head coach Matt Mott, entering his seventh season, was not surprised Fiorenzo had that kind of shot in her.
“She might be one of the cleanest ball strikers on our team,” Mott said.
From that point on, the Rebels stifled every attack the Ragin’ Cajuns put together while attempting several more chances of their own, the closest of which came in the 76th minute as Liza Harbin’s head connected with a corner kick but found the crossbar instead of the net. Mott felt his side should have had another goal but acknowledged Marnie Merritt’s goalkeeping abilities as well.
“I thought we got a couple good looks in the second half,” Mott said. “But I would have liked to have scored at least one more goal and I think that second half probably deserved one but credit to them, they worked hard and battled and I liked that we kept a clean sheet.”
He said he was proud of the way his side played but knows there is even more to come.
“For us it’s about being cleaner, connecting more passes, keeping the ball better, and being cleaner with the ball,” Mott said. “I think through midfield at times we were good and at times we were sloppy so that’s something we’ve gotta clean up because if we can get the ball to those front guys we’re dangerous and we need them to get the ball a lot.”
Forbus felt her team played well and deserved the win, but mimicked Mott’s desire to improve.
“I think we did well staying organized in the back, staying composed. I think our communication was good,” Forbus said. “I think one thing we need to work on is just a little bit sharper on the ball, a little bit sharper in the attack, and maybe work on moving the ball a bit faster.”
The Rebels will now face Northwestern State at home on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. as they continue their four game home stand.
