Ruby Draayer
Overtime. A word all too familiar for the Lady Rebels this season — particularly this past week. Over the weekend, both games played required extra intensity as they both went into overtime.
“(We’ve had) three overtime matches in league play and we’re undefeated, so we’ve defended really well,” head coach Matt Mott said. “Ashley Orkus is playing great in goal. Grace Johnson, Madison Smith, Maddy Houghton and Sydney Michalak have been doing a great job. Julia Phillips at midfield is really playing at a high level. We’re going to need that certainly this week as we head into Arkansas.”
The Rebels will have another tough SEC matchup against No. 15 Arkansas on Thursday night. The Razorbacks are 8-2-1 on the season with wins over then-No. 22 Baylor, top-ranked North Carolina and No. 15 Vanderbilt. The squad is coming off a heartbreaking loss to No. 8 South Carolina.
“They are a potent team and they aren’t giving up goals. Really a tough opponent for us on the road, but our team is in a good spot and excited for this challenge,” Mott said. “The SEC is not getting any easier, but it’s a one-game weekend for us, with just Arkansas. Then we have the weekend off.”
Thursday in Starkville, the Lady Rebels had a tough game against Mississippi State. It ended up a tie in double overtime. The Rebels had a lot of chances throughout the entire game, with an exciting header that hit the crossbar by Julia Phillips. Ole Miss got their break through in the 18th minute when Haleigh Stackpole shot inside the box to the top right corner.
State was able to tie it up just a few minutes later where MaKayla Wardner beat Ashley Orkus in a one on one.
Even though the overtime wasn’t full of a lot of action, Sophomore Lonnie Mulligan had a chance to give Ole Miss the lead in the 109th minute. Her shot was sent just wide of the goal.
Despite a tough overtime tie full of plenty of chances from the Rebels, Ole Miss was able to keep the Magnolia Cup trophy for the 6th year in a row. Matt Mott reflected on the Magnolia Cup victory.
“Yes, it absolutely does. The great thing for this team this year is that we are deep. That’s why we’ve won three of them and tied the other two.”
The Rebels left Starkville with an edge to get three points at home and to stay at the top of the SEC. They were able to do just that.
In the past six meetings, Ole Miss has managed to stay undefeated with the Tigers. However, this meeting would go a little differently than planned.
Ole Miss battled hard throughout the full 90 minutes to keep the game level up until overtime, again. Ashley Orkus was able to get her 5th shutout of the season, which was a huge momentum booster for the team as they began their 5th overtime game of the season. This game was a game of few chances and was strictly a midfield battle.
In overtime, Channing Foster was able to find the corner of the net for her second golden goal of this season.
Foster was able to make the fight in the heat worth it to secure the 3 points at home. With securing this win against Auburn, Ole Miss was able to stay undefeated in league play.
“Yes, it absolutely does,” Mott said when asked if three consecutive overtime games takes a toll on the team. “The great thing for this team this year is that we are deep. That’s why we’ve won three of them and tied the other two.”
The Rebels and Coach Matt Mott hope to continue to defend against a tough SEC opponent on the road this week.
Ole Miss takes on No. 15 Arkansas this Thursday in Fayetteville at 7 p.m.
