Soccer Rolls Tide, 3-1, in SEC Opener
Goals from Three Different Rebels Lead Ole Miss to Three Points
OXFORD, Miss. – (Courtesy Media Relations) Three goals on the night led Ole Miss (5-1-2, 1-0-0 SEC) to three points in the league table as the Rebels opened up SEC play with a 3-1 victory over Alabama (4-5-0, 0-1-0 SEC) Thursday night.
The Rebels got off to a quick start, with Mo O’Connor getting Ole Miss on the board in the 11th minute off a counter attack. After Channing Foster’s attempt at goal was blocked, Ramsey Davis latched onto the rebound and slid a backheel pass to O’Connor, who fired past Crimson Tide keeper McKinley Crone off a deflection.
Alabama answered back in the 24th minute, tying the score on a Kate Henderson header off of a Kat Rogers cross from the left wing.
Just under 12 minutes later, Foster was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot, awarding Ole Miss with a penalty kick opportunity. Haleigh Stackpole took the ball and sent Crone the wrong way, converting to regain the lead for the Rebels.
Just before the half time whistle came, Molly Martin made it three for the Rebels. After Foster slipped in Stackpole down the right wing, the Bowling Green, Kentucky, native lifted in a lofted cross aimed for Martin’s head. The ball found its mark, with Martin rising highest and looping in a headed goal in the 45th minute.
The Crimson Tide created a few chances to draw closer in the second 45 minutes but each time Ashley Orkus and the Rebel back line was up to the task, closing out the win to bring the Rebels to the top of the SEC table.
QUICK KICKS
• Molly Martin’s has scored in four of the last six matches, recording five total goals. Martin has posted six goals on the season, entering the year with no more than three in a single season.
• Mo O’Connor scored for the second straight match against the Crimson Tide, scoring the opener in last season’s 2-0 win in Tuscaloosa.
• With her second goal of the season and another assist on the night, Haleigh Stackpole has been involved in 11 of Ole Miss’ 16 goals.
• With her ninth assist of the season, Stackpole moves into a tie for the national lead.
NEXT UP
Ole Miss takes a quick break from SEC play on Sunday, playing its final non-conference match of the season as Georgia Southern comes to Oxford for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff. The match will be available for streaming on SEC Network +.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
