Ole Miss Soccer to Host Murray State in NCAA Tournament Match Friday

For the second time in the last three seasons, the Ole Miss soccer team will serve as a host site for the 2015 NCAA Tournament and face Murray State Friday night, the NCAA announced Monday in its reveal of the tournament field.

The Rebels will host the Racers at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Ole Miss Soccer Complex. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children and students; ticket information can be found here. It marks the second time Ole Miss will host an NCAA Tournament game in program history and sixth-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

The Rebels enter the tournament at 2-5 all-time in NCAA play with the two wins coming against Texas (1-0) in 2003, and a 9-0 blowout over Jackson State in 2013’s first-ever NCAA postseason game in Oxford.

The Rebels have enjoyed an impressive season in 2015, finishing third in the SEC standings after being picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll. Ole Miss finished the regular season at 13-5-2 overall and 7-4 in league action, falling to No. 18 Texas A&M, 2-0, in the SEC Tournament.

SEC Freshman of the Year CeCe Kizer has paved the way this season with 14 goals, the most by a freshman in the nation and third-most by a freshman in school history. She, and First Team All-SEC Addie Forbus have combined to score 25 of the Rebels’ 40 goals this season.

Outside the all-conference duo, nine other players have found the net for Ole Miss this season, including four from Gretchen Harknett and two each from Jessica Hiskey and Danielle Gray.

On the defensive side, redshirt freshman Marnie Merritt has led the Rebels in goal with 81 saves and just 24 goals allowed for a 1.18 goals allowed average. She, along with the Rebs defense, have tallied eight clean sheets this season.

Murray State is coming off winning the OVC Tournament Championship Sunday, defeating Southeast Missouri to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Racers enter Friday’s matchup 16-4 on the year, going an undefeated 10-0 in league play.

Harriet Withers leads the way for Murray State with 11 goals on the year. Taylor Richerson has netted nine and Taylor Stevens has tallied seven goals through 20 matches.

The Racers finished 1-2 against common Ole Miss opponents, with a 2-1 loss to UALR and 3-0 loss at the hands of Tennessee. Murray State defeated Austin Peay 2-1, a club the Rebels topped, 5-0. Ole Miss defeated all three common opponents by a combined score of 8-0.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Soccer on Twitter at @OleMissSoccer, on Facebook at Facebook.com/OleMissSoccer, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/officialolemisssoccer. Also follow head coach Matt Mott on Twitter at @CoachMattMott.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports

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