MOBILE, Ala. – Two Ole Miss goals in a five-minute span early in the first half proved crucial as the Rebels defeated the University of South Alabama soccer team 2-1 Sunday afternoon at The Cage.
Ole Miss wins its third straight to go to 5-1 on the year, while the Jaguars fall to 2-3.
GAME FACTS
- The Rebels' two goals – both from the right wing – came at 5:30 and 10:01
- The first, scored by Channing Foster, was a short-angle shot near the byline that deflected off USA goalkeeper Justice Stanford
- A short time later, Mary Kate Smith looped a shot just out of the reach of Stanford and inside the left post
- The Jaguars managed five shots in the first half – two on goal – but were unable to seriously test Marnie Merritt
- Six minutes into the second half, South Alabama capitalized on a mistake by Merritt to cut the lead in half
- A Rebel goal kick went straight to sophomore Ana Helmert, who dribbled inside the 18-yard box and fed freshman Moa Öhman at the penalty spot; Öhman beat Merritt at 51:01 for her second goal of the season
- Helmert tried Merritt from 20 yards out with 12 minutes to go, and freshman Morgan Cross had a tight-angle shot two minutes later that forced Merritt to go to the ground
- South Alabama outshot Ole Miss 10-8 after halftime, and put four attempts on net; the Rebels held a 16-15 shot advantage for the game
- Foster had a team-high five shots, with four on net, and Öhman put one of her five shots on target
NOTES
- Ole Miss is receiving votes in this week's United Soccer Coaches top-25 poll
- The Rebels lead the series between the two schools 4-2; the teams have split the last two meetings (2016, 2018)
- Öhman's goal was USA's first since the 78:48 mark against Chattanooga, a span of over 242 minutes
- Junior Audrey Duren played a career-high 55 minutes and was credited with one shot
- Öhman and senior Hannah Godfrey share the team lead with two goals apiece this season
THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Richard Moodie
On coming up short: "Soccer is a game of two halves and if we cancel out the first 20 minutes, we're the better side.