The Russ Report: Ole Miss vs. Vandy Hockey Series Recap
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss and Vanderbilt split a hockey series this past weekend, with both games ending in final scores of 3-1.
The Ice Rebs played two complete games, and this was the best series Ole Miss has played all season. That is saying something, considering they swept Dallas Baptist University back in October by scores of 4-1 and 8-4.
Game one
A great game from the goalie and captain of the Commodores, Andrew Shearson, backed up by Reese Popkin’s two points, led Vandy to the 3-2 victory Friday night.
Vandy got on the board first late in the first and doubled its lead early in the second. Midway through the second, Michael O’Malley got the Rebs within one.
Harrison Parent would reestablish Vandy’s two-goal lead late in the period.
Cooper Fox and defenseman Aiden Maclean teamed up to get an admirable goal on a breakaway. It was the defenseman’s first goal of the season.
The Rebs pulled their goalie late in the third but could not find an equalizer.
Game two
Ole Miss dominated the first period of game two. The Rebels outshot the Commodores 21-9 and 46-33 for the game. Despite that large shot gap, Ole Miss could only get one goal on the board.
Vandy tied the game late in the second and took the lead three minutes into the third.
After a few minutes of significant pressure from the Ice Rebs, team president Richard Price and O’Malley would tie the game on a two-on-one (two skaters against one defenseman).
Freshman D-man Samuel Davies scored his first goal of the season and the game-winning goal not long after.
The Rebel top line (McClorey, J. Keller, and Maher) really set the tone throughout the series. It was great to see the freshman Charlie McClorey play as well as he did. He was very confident and consistently created good plays.
The series preview stated that if the Rebels were going to have success, Jake Keller needed to have a good series. While he did not get on the board in the two games, he created many good chances and gave the Rebs momentum.
Russ Eddins
Russ Eddins is a freshman at the University of Mississippi majoring in journalism with an emphasis in sports writing. He has lived in Oxford for over 12 years. Since August of 2022, he has worked with the Ole Miss Hockey team. While hockey is his main focus in writing, he is also an avid baseball fan. Email Russ at russ.eddins819@gmail.com or DM him on twitter @EddinsRuss.
