An early Florida goal in the 5th minute was the difference in an otherwise even match, as No. 24 Ole Miss fell to the No. 7 Gators, 1-0, in the SEC opener for both teams Thursday night at James G. Pressly Stadium.

It was the 4:43 mark that brought the only score of the night, when the Gators (6-1, 1-0 SEC) found the net after a cross came in from the far side, it wasn’t cleared, and Mayra Pelayo tapped it in from seven yards out. From there, the Rebels (7-1-1, 0-1 SEC) controlled the second half of play despite not finding the net.

 

Despite being outshot 10-4, only four of the Gators’ shots were on frame, and Ole Miss posted two of its attempts on target. Kizer had two for the Rebel offense with one on frame, while Channing Foster and Mary Kate Smith had one each.

Defensively the Rebels played well on the backline, including multiple moments throughout the night when the defense made goal-saving plays. On paper goalkeeper Marnie Merritt had just three saves credited to her name, but she came out of the net multiple times throughout the match to stop a Florida attack.

Kickers

• The Rebels allowed only 10 shots from Florida’s attack, including just four that were on frame. Ole Miss posted two of its four shots on target.
• Goalkeeper Marnie Merritt tied her season high with three saves on the night.
• After being down in corner kicks 6-2 in the first half, the Rebels came back to post four in the second period and didn’t allow one from Florida, knotting that category at 6-6.

Up Next
Ole Miss returns home to host Georgia next Thursday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.
Brandon Lee

Ole Miss Athletics