The University of Mississippi Athletics
SEC Primer: Soccer Opens Conference Play Friday
9/13/2023 | Soccer
Rebels Undefeated at Home In Non-Conference Play
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss soccer (4-2-1) will open SEC league play this Friday when they host LSU (5-2-1) at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium for a 7 p.m. matchup on SEC Network+. The Rebels just wrapped a non-conference slate that saw them go undefeated at home and score 13 goals while only giving up six. Ole Miss posted three shutouts through seven games and scored six goals in a game for the first time since 2018.
The Southeastern Conference poses a strong test for the Rebels this season with four teams currently holding positions in the the top-25 national rankings. Ole Miss will play against three of those four teams in Alabama, South Carolina, and Arkansas, who are each ranked in the top-11.
THREE OF A KIND
On Sunday, Kelly Brady became the first Rebel to score three goals in a match since CeCe Kizer last did so on August 19, 2018 against Western Kentucky. Brady is now one of just three Rebels over the last eight seasons to notch a hat trick. Kizer did it once in both the 2018 and 2017 seasons and Channing Foster did it twice during the 2017 season.
Shu Ohba continues to lead the SEC in saves (28) and saves per game (4.00/game). She is also ranked fourth in save percentage (.848) and her three shutouts are tied for third-most in the conference.
SPREADING THE LOVE
Seven different Rebels have scored goals and 13 different Rebels have earned points through seven matches. Only Kelly Brady and Gili Johnson have scored more than once, and Aubrey Mister is the only Rebel to be credited with more than one assist.
Ohba was named SEC Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for week three by the conference office after posting back-to-back shutouts against Samford and Georgia State. Ohba became the first Rebel to earn a conference weekly recognition since Haleigh Stackpole last did on October 18, 2021. It was also just the second time over the last four seasons that a Rebel was been named Defensive Player of the Week (Ashley Orkus 10/11/21). Ohba made four saves on 12 shots faced against the Bulldogs and two saves on nine shots faced against the Panthers for a total of six saves on 21 shots faced on the week.
The Rebels will play on national television twice this season, once on the road and once in Oxford. Both games will be on SEC Network with the first taking place on September 21 in Nashville against Vanderbilt. Later that weekend Ole Miss will return home to host Auburn on September 24, also on SEC Network.
National TV Games
September 21 at Vanderbilt (6 p.m. CT) – SEC Network
September 24 vs. Auburn (2 p.m. CT) – SEC Network
UP NEXT: OLE MISS VS. LSU
The Tigers come to Oxford with the all-time series tied at 13 wins apiece. Ole Miss and LSU faced off twice last season, first in the final game of the regular season and then again in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Pensacola. The Tigers took the first matchup 4-1 but three days later the Rebels would end up eliminating LSU from the conference tournament in a game that went to a penalty kick shootout. In 2021, the Rebels defeated then-ranked No. 5 LSU 2-0 in Oxford and have won three of the last four regular season matchups between the two teams.
The Southeastern Conference poses a strong test for the Rebels this season with four teams currently holding positions in the the top-25 national rankings. Ole Miss will play against three of those four teams in Alabama, South Carolina, and Arkansas, who are each ranked in the top-11.
THREE OF A KIND
On Sunday, Kelly Brady became the first Rebel to score three goals in a match since CeCe Kizer last did so on August 19, 2018 against Western Kentucky. Brady is now one of just three Rebels over the last eight seasons to notch a hat trick. Kizer did it once in both the 2018 and 2017 seasons and Channing Foster did it twice during the 2017 season.
SHU WILL SAVE YOUFirst Rebel with a hat trick since 2018 🎩🎩🎩#HottyToddy x @kellyybrady pic.twitter.com/QTzZ58G4al
— Ole Miss Soccer (@OleMissSoccer) September 10, 2023
Shu Ohba continues to lead the SEC in saves (28) and saves per game (4.00/game). She is also ranked fourth in save percentage (.848) and her three shutouts are tied for third-most in the conference.
SPREADING THE LOVE
Seven different Rebels have scored goals and 13 different Rebels have earned points through seven matches. Only Kelly Brady and Gili Johnson have scored more than once, and Aubrey Mister is the only Rebel to be credited with more than one assist.
SEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEKFirst goal in a Rebel uniform for Meredith 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/sBYlWJyLMd
— Ole Miss Soccer (@OleMissSoccer) September 12, 2023
Ohba was named SEC Soccer Defensive Player of the Week for week three by the conference office after posting back-to-back shutouts against Samford and Georgia State. Ohba became the first Rebel to earn a conference weekly recognition since Haleigh Stackpole last did on October 18, 2021. It was also just the second time over the last four seasons that a Rebel was been named Defensive Player of the Week (Ashley Orkus 10/11/21). Ohba made four saves on 12 shots faced against the Bulldogs and two saves on nine shots faced against the Panthers for a total of six saves on 21 shots faced on the week.
REBELS ON THE BIG STAGE👑👑👑#HottyToddy x #SECSOC pic.twitter.com/elTHKC5SBy
— Ole Miss Soccer (@OleMissSoccer) September 5, 2023
The Rebels will play on national television twice this season, once on the road and once in Oxford. Both games will be on SEC Network with the first taking place on September 21 in Nashville against Vanderbilt. Later that weekend Ole Miss will return home to host Auburn on September 24, also on SEC Network.
National TV Games
September 21 at Vanderbilt (6 p.m. CT) – SEC Network
September 24 vs. Auburn (2 p.m. CT) – SEC Network
UP NEXT: OLE MISS VS. LSU
The Tigers come to Oxford with the all-time series tied at 13 wins apiece. Ole Miss and LSU faced off twice last season, first in the final game of the regular season and then again in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Pensacola. The Tigers took the first matchup 4-1 but three days later the Rebels would end up eliminating LSU from the conference tournament in a game that went to a penalty kick shootout. In 2021, the Rebels defeated then-ranked No. 5 LSU 2-0 in Oxford and have won three of the last four regular season matchups between the two teams.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Soccer on X at @OleMissSoccer, on the Ole Miss Soccer Facebook page, and on Instagram at @officialolemisssoccer.
Players Mentioned
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