Still winning: UM Soccer team takes winning streak to nine

ANDRIA MORGAN
DM Senior Staff Writer

The Ole Miss soccer team has been unstoppable lately.

The Lady Rebels extended their school-record winning streak to nine games, defeating SEC rivals LSU, 2-1 and Arkansas, 4-2 over the weekend.

"What a tremendous effort from the team," said head coach Steve Holeman. "This team believes in what they can do."

Freshman Amy Sample stepped up for the Lady Rebels over the weekend, scoring the game-winning goal Friday and coming off the bench Sunday to score a hat trick in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

Sample scored her first four goals this past weekend.

"I can't even count how many times we've had a player come in and step up for us," Holeman said. "What a great weekend Sample had."

"Everybody plays hard," senior mid-fielder Jennifer Soileau said. "The thing that is great about the team is, other teams can't just stop one person."

Friday, the Lady Rebels started off the scoring 4:45 into the game with a shot by Courtney Biddle, her fourth for the season. Soileau had the assist.

Melissa Shelton scored for the Tigers to tie up the game with 24:46 left to go. Sample then scored with 10 minutes left in the game for the win.

On Sunday, the Lady Razorbacks' Mary Langston scored early in the first half with 39 minutes left to go. The shot was assisted by Crystal Test.

"They go down early a goal and they fight and never give up," Holeman said. "They believe in themselves and it was just a tremendous comeback on their part."

With Ole Miss down 1-0, Sample came in off the bench and scored at 14:45, at 2:53 with an assist by Anna Sanders and again with only 45 seconds left of play in the first half.

"It is unbelievable," Sample said. "I thought I was in a dream. I couldn't have done it without my team. All of us forwards work together to pressure. I just got lucky and was in the right place at the right time."

Arkansas narrowed the gap, 3-2, with a goal by Julie Wiliford 10 minutes into the second half.

Soileau then scored with 23:58 left to play, making her the all-time Ole Miss leading scorer.

"It feels good," Soileau said. "I couldn't have done it without the team. I can't take any credit for myself."

"I can't wait for our next game," Sample said. "I feel like Ole Miss is a great place, and I'm lucky to be a part of it."

The Lady Rebels will play two SEC games this weekend, on the road against Alabama on Friday and Auburn on Sunday.