Xander Norris
The Ole Miss soccer team returned home from a tight Magnolia Cup matchup to pull off a thrilling 1-0 victory against Auburn on Sunday using a Channing Foster overtime goal to finish the game.
On a hot Mississippi afternoon, the only goal scored between both teams was one of the few real scoring chances. Ole Miss outshot Auburn 12-9, but only five shots were on goal between the two sides.
Ashley Orkus picked up her fifth shutout of the season and was excellent between the posts during the match.
In the early minutes of the match, both sides had a few chances. The contest turned into a midfield game resulting in a scoreless tie at the half.
The second half was more of the same as both teams were scraping to break down the opposition’s defense and create space.
The Rebels didn’t have much success until the final few minutes. In the 85th minute, Molly Martin gave Ole Miss its first significant chance, but couldn’t get the angle right and missed the goal.
Ole Miss was forced to play extra minutes for the third straight game, but it was worth the wait. In the first overtime, Foster found the corner and scored the golden goal.
The Rebels have made a home in the extra time this year and the matchup last Thursday was no exception. Ole Miss brought the Magnolia Cup back home to Oxford for the sixth straight season after last Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Mississippi State.
The stats ended somewhat evenly Thursday night with both teams taking 13 total shots. Ole Miss had four shots on goal while the Bulldogs only took two.
Haleigh Stackpole scored the Rebels only goal in the 18th minute. Stackpole was left all alone in the middle of the box after a failed clearance by the MSU defense. The sophomore launched the ball into the right side of the goal giving Ole Miss the lead.
Several minutes later MaKayla Waldner toe-poked the ball past Rebel keeper Ashley Orkus and tied the score going into halftime.
Following halftime, Foster and Lonnie Mulligan created a few chances for the Rebels but came up short. The rivalry matchup extended into overtime as neither team was able to score before the clock hit zero.
Following a relatively uneventful first overtime session, Mulligan took a blazing shot from the right side of the box in the 109th minute. Mulligan’s attempt was just inches away from giving the Rebs three points. Instead, Ole Miss was given a quality point on the road, earning them the right to bring the Magnolia Cup back to Oxford.
The 7-2 Rebels head to Fayetteville Thursday night to face No.13 Arkansas.
