Rafaelle Souza battles Jackson State defender Quiona McAdam-Mitchell for the ball during Friday’s 9-0 win. Photo: Katie Williamson, The Daily Mississippian
The Ole Miss soccer team (16-5-2) rewrote the school’s record books on Friday night at the Ole Miss Soccer Complex, as it defeated Jackson State (10-10-2) 9-0 in first-round action of the NCAA Tournament.
“I felt like it was a complete game for us,” Ole Miss head coach Matt Mott said. “I was happy with the intensity we came out with and the energy level. I thought we were very good in the back. I thought our possession was fantastic tonight. I thought that was probably the key to our success.”
This was the first time in school history that the program hosted an NCAA Tournament game, and the Rebels certainly lived up to the moment. Leading scorer Rafaelle Souza continued her blistering pace, recording her first hat trick of the season and becoming the Rebels’ all-time leading scorer in the process. She now has 44 goals in her three-year career, which is three more goals than the 41 posted by Sarah Comeaux when her college career ended in 1996.
Souza is a senior this season, but there is still a possibility of her receiving an extra year of eligibility.
“I might play here one more year, so this may not be my last game,” Souza said.
Six other Rebels also showed up in the scoring column, including senior Erin Emerson, who scored her first goal of the year. She said that the possibility of this being her last home game as a Rebel and continuing to play in the NCAA Tournament was “exciting.”
Senior goalkeeper Brianna Supulski went down with an apparent lower leg injury late in the game. Mott described it as a serious knee injury, and Mott said it will most likely be the last time she will play this season.
After their record-setting win, the team’s second all-time in the NCAA Tournament and first since 2003, the Rebels are now preparing to face the top-seeded team in the region in Florida State. The Rebels and Seminoles will battle it out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night in Tallahassee. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss soccer, follow @thedm_sports on Twitter.
— Nick Eley
njeley@go.olemiss.edu
