Things just did not feel rig0ht when Addie Forbus visited the University of Georgia. That wasn’t the school for her, but it was the school that helped her realize what school was for her.
As a rising sophomore in high school, Forbus knew she wanted to be an Ole Miss Rebel. So, while in Athens, Ga., on a visit to check out the Bulldogs, Forbus called Ole Miss head coach Matt Mott and declared, “I want to be a Rebel.”
“It took me going on a visit somewhere else to realize that Ole Miss was home and where I wanted to be,” Forbus said.
By the time she committed to Ole Miss, she had already established herself as perhaps the best soccer player in her home state of Mississippi. Forbus first saw action for Amory High School as a seventh grader, and she would go on to have an outstanding and decorated prep career before arriving in Oxford this past June.
“The coaches, the places and the people that I encountered along the way helped me prepare for the day I would finally be here,” she said.
“Decorated prep career” might not explain just how successful Forbus was before joining Ole Miss soccer, though.
During her senior season, Forbus broke the Mississippi high school state record for career goals with 231. Prior to the career mark, she had set the state record for goals in a season with 52. It’s safe to say that Forbus left quite an impact on her school, teammates and all of Mississippi high school soccer.
“I hope that I left a positive impact on the Amory High School soccer program, and even the town,” Forbus said. “I have such a heart for the girls on that team. I want to see them love the game and continue to succeed.”
After waiting for so long to finally play at Ole Miss, Forbus experienced a special moment earlier this season when she scored the first goal of the season for the Rebels in her first collegiate game against Louisiana-Lafayette.
“It was honestly a dream come true,” Forbus said. “It was a surreal moment. I couldn’t believe that was actually happening.”
Forbus wasn’t the only one feeling that way.
“It’s almost like a fairy tale,” Mott said. “Her second touch of the game she scored a goal. She’s come in and done really, really well. She’s really fast, and she knows how to score goals. She’s been really dangerous. We’re excited about her. That’s another weapon to our arsenal.”
That arsenal, which now includes Forbus, is led by two of the SEC’s best playmakers and the 2012 SEC goal-scoring leaders, Mandy McCalla and Rafaelle Souza. That has made an impact on her game.
“They never let me settle,” Forbus said. “Mandy especially pushes me to another level. They keep the level of play high at practice and during the game.”
Forbus has now scored two goals this season and has helped the Rebels to an 8-1-1 record this season. She will look to continue her success when Ole Miss hosts perennial SEC power Florida for its conference home opener at 7 p.m. Friday.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss soccer, follow @thedm_sports on Twitter.
