Ole Miss defeats No. 5 LSU for highest-ranked win in program history

OXFORD, Miss. – On a night where temperatures dipped into the low 60’s, the Ole Miss offense brought the heat as the Rebels (7-1-2, 2-0-0 SEC) overwhelmed No. 5 LSU (8-1-0, 1-1-0) 2-0 on Thursday at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium, handing the Tigers their first loss of the season and giving Ole Miss its highest-ranked win in program history.

While the Tigers brought top-5 billing to Oxford, it was the Rebels who played like one of the nation’s elite on the night. Ole Miss was on the front foot throughout the match, outshooting the Tigers 19-5.

As soon as the opening whistle blew, the Rebels stepped on the gas, applying sustained pressure on the Tiger back line. The Rebels created a handful of scoring chances in the opening 45 minutes, including Mo O’Connor striking the woodwork, but entered the locker room deadlocked in a scoreless tie.

After a couple of additional looks were thwarted by LSU, Molly Martin and the Rebels struck off a corner kick to push ahead in the 62^nd minute. True to form, Haleigh Stackpole sent in a tantalizing service from the flag and found Martin’s head, with the senior lifting her redirect above everyone and into the net to give Ole Miss a 1-0 lead.

HIGHLIGHTS | Ole Miss Soccer defeats LSU 2 – 0 (9/23/21) #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Fh738lFQpW

— Ole Miss Soccer (@OleMissSoccer) September 24, 2021

Unrelenting, the Rebels continued to push for a second and hit paydirt in the 74^th minute through former Oxford Charger O’Connor. The feed came from Channing Foster, who used quick feet to create a yard of space to get a cross off. The pass hit a streaking O’Connor in the center of the box and the local product hit the ball with the deftest of touches, nestling the ball into the corner to give the Rebs some breathing room.

With a two-goal lead in tow, Ole Miss killed off the remaining 16 minutes expertly, with LSU posing no truly dangerous threat to Ashley Orkus’ goal as the Rebel keeper claimed her second clean sheet of the season.

QUICK KICKS
• At No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches, LSU is the highest ranked opponent Ole Miss has defeated in program-history.
• The Rebels move to 2-0-0 in SEC play with a pair of in-division wins to move to remain at the top of the SEC West table. It is the first time Ole Miss has started SEC play with back-to-back wins since 2000.
• Ole Miss has won four straight SEC games, its most since taking five consecutive league matchups in 2015.
• Molly Martin scored her seventh goal of the season, moving into a tie for fourth most in the SEC.
• Mo O’Connor also hit the back of the net, her third goal of the season.
• Channing Foster and Haleigh Stackpole each recorded assists on the night, with Stackpole maintaining her hold of the No. 2 spot in the nation with 11 assists on the season.
• Prior to the Rebel shutout, LSU had not been held to fewer than two goals in 2021.
• The Rebels also held LSU to just five shots. Before Thursday, the Tigers had not been held to fewer than 11 shots in a match this season.

NEXT UP
Ole Miss will look to stay hot as it hits the road, heading to the Natural State to take on No. 16 Arkansas on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The match will be available for streaming on SEC Network +.