Ole Miss soccer remained undefeated on the season with another shutout victory over Memphis at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis, Tenn. on Sunday night.

As was the theme in last year’s meeting, both sides swapped fouls all game in a back-and-forth contest, but the Rebel defense prevailed yet again, and freshman Channing Foster again found her offensive stride with a first-half goal to keep the unbeaten season alive.

Foster, who took seven of the Rebels’ 11 shots, made the most of her attempt in the 44th minute that would be only tally on the scoreboard. With the clock winding down nearing halftime, CeCe Kizer played to her from midfield on a give-and-go, and Foster did the rest with an impressive, left-footed strike that would sail roughly 35 yards into the back right corner.

After the Rebels took the 1-0 lead to the intermission, they didn’t let the aggressiveness go away, as multiple attempts in the second period were just a tad off. Mary Kate Smith had a strike just in front of Memphis keeper Shepard Ashworth, but is was stopped short of the net. Foster followed that with a shot from 15 yards out a few minutes later, but it was also kept away.

The freshman came back eight minutes later with a dangerous strike from 20 yards out off a cross from Smith, but it floated just high. Goalkeeper Marnie Merritt made one of the better stops of the year as she leaped up for a one-handed stop off a Memphis striker that got clear on the near side near the end of the match.

Merritt finished with two saves on the night, and the Rebel defense overall allowed only six Memphis shots. The Rebels once again held the advantage in corner kicks with five to the Tigers’ two, while the two sides combined for 29 fouls. Memphis had 15 fouls and Ole Miss 14. On the offensive side for the Rebels, Kizer had three attempts with one on frame, while Mary Kate Smith posted one shot on target.

Ole Miss is now 7-0-1 on the season.

Kickers

• Ole Miss once again dominated defensively, allowing only six shots from Memphis all game. Goalkeeper Marnie Merritt was credited with two stops on the night, contributing to the Rebels’ fifth consecutive shutout, and seventh of the season.
• The Rebels officially broke the school record for the longest time holding opponents scoreless at 564 minutes, snapping the 2012 record of 483 minutes. Ole Miss’ last and only goal allowed came in the Michigan contest on August 25.
• With the seventh victory in eight contests, the Rebels become only the third team in school history to go unbeaten through the first eight games (2012, 2002).
• It also marks the fifth time in program history Ole Miss will enter SEC play undefeated (1998, 1999, 2002, 2012).
• Freshman Channing Foster carded her team-leading ninth goal on the season, and her first game-winner of her career.
• Junior CeCe Kizer assisted Foster on the goal in the 44th minute, which puts her tied for the team lead in assists.
• The Rebels outshot Memphis 11-6, and have outshot their opponent in each of the first eight games.
• Ole Miss increased its lead in the all-time rivalry series to 11-7-2.

Up Next
Ole Miss opens SEC play on the SEC Network Thursday night at Florida at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT. A non-conference trip to Stetson caps play next weekend, slated for Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.