Matt Mott’s Mississippi Rebels started their season in the best possible way, going a perfect 7-0-0 in non-conference play and looking very good in the process.

Rafaelle Souza

The strong start is even more impressive considering Mott’s squad runs out as many as half-a-dozen freshmen in the starting lineup on a given day. A 4-0 home loss Sunday to Texas A&M may serve as a little market correction to the expectations of the Rebels’ most ardent fans, but there’s still plenty of reasons to be bullish about Ole Miss.

“We set a goal to be undefeated in non-conference play,” Mott said. “We’re happy about that, but maybe more happy with the way we performed in those first 7 games. We’re never happy about losing a game, but Texas A&M is certainly a quality side and even there, hopefully we can learn from that experience going forward. We’re pleased with how we’ve been able to score goals and defend until (the A&M game).”

Playing a 4-3-3 formation, the Rebels have outscored opponents 30-8 in their 9 matches (they opened SEC play Friday with a 4-1 win over Arkansas). Center forward Mandy McCalla and left-sided attacker Rafaelle Souza have each scored 9 goals, with freshmen Bethany Bunker and Sara Coleman sharing time on the right to produce a combined 7 assists.

“Rafaelle is a Brazilian international who was very good last year before she had an injury late in the season which really hurt us,” Mott said. “Mandy is a junior out of Georgia who is just playing great. The two of them together are very potent and have helped us release the pressure on our defense. They are a really good combo up there.”

McCalla played club soccer at AFC Lightning. She has already surpassed her goal total from last season (5). Souza has tied has tied her goal total from last season and previously played for Brazil in both the U17 and U20  World Cups, in 2008 and 2010, respectively.

Mandy McCalla

Mott credits senior Alex Hildal with playing a vital holding midfield role in the formation, along with junior Erin Emerson. Jennifer Miller, a skilled freshman from St. Louis Scott Gallagher, was starting at attacking mid before suffering an injury, with  fellow freshman Olivia Harrison also playing valuable minutes in that role and scoring 5 goals in the process

In the back line, Mott has been fielding Nashville-area freshman Jessica Hiskey at left back, Javanon SC junior Maddie Cunningham on the right, St. Louis freshman Maddie Friedmann at one center back and FC Milwaukee product Samantha Sanders, yet another freshman, at the other. So Cal Blues’ standout Kelly McCormick has started every game in goal, while Emily Sinovich, Brooke Theobald Sydney Eddy and Emily Reid also seeing a good bit of playing time.

Mott said the opening non-conference matches served a good purpose in adjusting the freshmen in the Ole Miss lineup to the speed and rigors of the college game.

“To be starting 5 or 6 freshmen at the NCAA level, a lot of things can happen. But they have responded well,” he said. “Now we are into the SEC season. There is a lot of parity in the league and definitely no easy games. I think we’ll continue to see a bunch of ties and overtime games. It’s going to be a tough 13-game stretch.”

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