As only a freshman, CeCe Kizer is leading the soccer team in goals. PHOTO BY: ROYCE SWAYZE
CeCe Kizer is not wasting any time in establishing herself as a part of the Ole Miss midfield.
Despite joining a veteran soccer team that returns 10 starters from 2014, the freshman from Overland Park, Kansas has started in all four matches this season.
She has scored four goals in the last three games, giving her the team lead. She scored two goals Sunday against Austin Peay, making her the first Ole Miss freshman to score twice in a game since teammate Olivia Harrison in 2012.
“She’s much farther along than the typical freshman with her ability to make plays,” Ole Miss head coach Matthew Mott said. “She’s come in here and played as well as any freshman we’ve had. Her vision is excellent. She has ability on the ball and the ability to beat players.”
Junior midfielder Gretchen Harknett sees Kizer as an integral part of the offense.
“She works really well with the two forwards and the two outside backs,” Harknett said. “She’s really good at playing through balls and little slip passes that get right past the back line. I think she’s done really well at that.”
“She’s linking up really well with Addie (Forbus) and Gretchen (Harknett), and they have a really good dynamic already,” Mott said. “We started to establish that in preseason. They’ve really clicked in these games.”
In high school, Kizer led Blue Valley Northwest High School to three consecutive Kansas 6A state titles from 2013 to 2015. She was named first team all-state and an NSCAA All-American her senior year. She also holds school records in assists, points in a season and points in a career.
Her transition to the college level was made more complicated by a position change.
“I changed positions right after I committed,” Kizer said. “I had played forward in the past, so it was pretty simple getting back into the position, but it was a lot different because I knew what defenders were thinking and what was going through their minds. Getting back into an attacking position was really fun.”
Mott kept tabs on Kizer, and her strong play convinced him that her new attacking role was the best fit.
“We kind of laughed about it early on, but the more she played, the more she just had a natural ability to score goals and be dangerous,” Mott said. “There are plenty of times where you make forwards into defenders, but to make a center back into an attacking midfielder is pretty bizarre, and you have to credit her and her ability as a soccer player.”
The biggest adjustment for Kizer hasn’t been the position change, but more of the physical play on the collegiate level.
“It’s a lot tougher,” Kizer said. “Girls are a lot bigger and the speed of play is so much quicker.”
As the Rebels look to remain undefeated Friday night against Central Florida, a team that made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament a year ago, Kizer is keeping her focus on the team.
“My goal is just to help the team keep winning, whatever I can do to help,” Kizer said.
