Several Ole Miss players lift the Magnolia Cup trophy against Mississippi State Oct. 31.
Photo by Austin McAfee I The Daily Mississippian
After finishing the regular season tied for the most wins in Ole Miss soccer history, the No. 22 nationally ranked Rebels got more good news Monday when they found out they would host their first-round game of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
It is the first time in program history that Ole Miss will host an NCAA Tournament game and the fifth-ever bid to play in the prestigious tournament. The Rebels will play host to in-state foe Jackson State.
“At our place under the lights,” Ole Miss head coach Matt Mott said. “That’s an awesome feeling and an awesome place to play.”
Ole Miss (15-5-2) is coming off of a loss to No. 5 Florida in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament, but the Rebels are looking forward to making a run in the postseason.
The players were filled with excitement as they watched the selection show from the Diamond Club at Oxford-University Stadium/Swayze Field, but for senior midfielder Erin Emerson, each game going forward could mean her career coming to an end.
“It’s bittersweet,” Emerson said. “It could be my last game; it might not be.”
Emerson captains a tight-knit group of seniors that includes forward Rafaelle Souza and midfielder/forward Mandy McCalla, who are Ole Miss’ top two goal scorers.
Junior goalkeeper Kelly McCormick wants to win the last home game for the seniors.
“I think we owe it to the seniors,” McCormick said. “They’ve worked really hard and led this team and this program to greatness.”
The Rebels host Southwestern Athletic Conference champion Jackson State (10-9-2). Mott said his squad doesn’t yet know enough about Jackson State.
“Well we don’t know much,” Mott said. “So we’ve got to go to work and figure out everything we can.”
The Tigers and the Rebs played one common opponent this year in Mississippi State. The Tigers lost to the Bulldogs 4-2 in Starkville at the Bulldog Classic in September, while the Rebels defeated the Bulldogs less than two weeks ago in the regular season finale, 5-1.
Friday’s game will kick off at 7 p.m. from the Ole Miss Soccer Complex. Admission for adults is $7 and $5 for children and students.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss soccer, follow @NickAndrews1 and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
-Nick Andrews
tribnic@gmail.com
