University of Tennessee Athletics
SOCCER CENTRAL: Tennessee vs. #13 Ole Miss
October 21, 2015 | Soccer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --The University of Tennessee women's soccer team is eager to get back to work this Friday as they welcome No. 13 Ole Miss to Regal Soccer Stadium at 7 p.m.
Friday night's contest can be seen live on SEC Network +/WatchESPN with Roger Hoover handling play-by-play duties and Tori Beeler Watson serving as the analyst.
The Big Orange will try to bounce back from its first road loss of the year after falling to Missouri, 3-1, last Sunday in Columbia. Junior forward Amy Neal scored the Vols' lone goal against the Tigers, tying her with Anna McClung for the team lead with five.
The No. 13 Rebels (11-3-2, 5-3 SEC) will be the fourth ranked opponent Tennessee has faced this season and represent another opportunity for the Vols to pick up a signature win. UT is 0-2-1 against ranked teams this season after tying No. 7 Virginia Tech and losing to No. 14 Auburn and No. 12 Florida.
Tennessee (7-3-5, 3-3-3 SEC) enters Friday's match sitting in a tie for eighth in the SEC standings with 11 points while Ole Miss is currently tied for fourth with 15 points. There is a log jam atop the standings with three teams tied for first with 16 points, and there is only a six-point gap between the top three and the current No. 10-seed LSU.
Mississippi carries a three-game win streak into Friday's game, including back-to-back shutouts of ranked foes South Carolina and Auburn last week. The Rebels are led by freshman standout CeCe Kizer, who ranks third in the SEC with 11 goals this season.
The Volunteers have been very successful against Ole Miss, posting a 13-3-2 all-time record against the Rebels. UT has not lost to Mississippi since 2003, posting a 10-0-2 record in the past 12 meetings, including five straight wins in the series. The Vols defeated the Rebels, 3-2, in double overtime of last year's regular-season finale.
Friday's game will feature contrasting styles as Ole Miss relies heavily on its offensive production, which ranks fourth in the conference with 2.12 goals per game. On the other side, Tennessee has been led by its stingy defense all season long, leading the SEC in goals allowed (11), goals against average (0.68) and shutouts (nine).
The first 250 fans through the gates on Friday will receive a free Goal Pink t-shirt and access to the free tie-dye station. Donations for Dunkin' Donuts benefitting Susan G. Komen Knoxville will also be accepted and other pink-themed festivities will be held at the game in support of breast cancer awareness month.
The Vols are back in action on Sunday evening for their final regular-season home game this season as they host Kentucky at 5 p.m. Tennessee's three seniors - Julie Eckel, Susan Ferguson and Gabby Santorio - will be honored before the game.
