Ole Miss Soccer failed to capitalize on home field advantage this past weekend, dropping two conference matchups to No. 3 Vanderbilt and Texas, respectively.
Facing one of the nation’s top teams in the Commodores, the Rebels were in for a battle on senior night. Vanderbilt started the match with six players currently in the running for all-conference slots, leaving the Rebels in an insurmountable position from the opening kickoff.
Vanderbilt’s Adysen Armenta registered the first real chance of the game in the fifth minute, placing a shot on target only for it to be blocked out of play by Peyton Dyess. Rebel goalkeeper Taylor Prigge handled the ensuing corner kick well to keep the game tied.
The Commodores continued their pressure early on without getting any real results, their closest chance came with a direct shot from a corner kick off the side netting. While the often leaky Rebels defense looked strong early on, Vanderbilt’s pressure was beginning to break the home side down as time ticked on.
Vanderbilt’s Sydney Watts opened the scoring in the 22nd minute after a sustained period of pressure, while her teammate Mia Hebert added a goal of her own just eight minutes later. The Rebels were unable to answer ahead of the halftime break, heading to the interval down 2-0.
The Rebels had opportunities of their own coming out of the break, most notably with Ava Ghoreishi forcing a spectacular diving save from Commodore keeper Alexa Gianoplus. Isabella Pontieri, one of the Rebel seniors honored in the pre-game ceremony, struck the post with a long shot but the ball sailed out of play harmlessly following it.
Vanderbilt put the match away soon after. Olivia Stafford scored in the 66th minute before Hebert added her second goal six minutes later.
The Commodores finished with a 16-7 advantage in shots and held Ole Miss to just two shots on goal. Taylor Prigge made three saves in goal for the Rebels.
Just three days later the Rebels faced the Texas Longhorns, a side ranked No. 16 in the National Coaches poll and just outside of the NCAA Top 25.
Texas’ Ashlyn Anderson scored 70 seconds into the match, leaving the Rebels unable to get into a groove before finding themselves in a deficit.
Ole Miss was not shy offensively, though none of their chances were as clear-cut as the ones Texas was able to create.
The Rebels generated 16 shots and seven corner kicks but were unable to beat Texas goalkeeper Bayliss Flynn, who finished with six saves. Texas also caught Ole Miss offside four times.
Ava McDonald added an insurance goal in the 61st minute, receiving a pass from Vivian Geesbreght before firing a shot past Prigge and into the bottom-right corner.
After opening the season 7-1, the Rebels have lost their first four SEC matches. The Rebels will look to turn things around this Friday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., against the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide.
