Junior Dylan Jordan scored a header goal off a cross from junior Kelsey Breathitt in the 71st minute, and Ole Miss opened the 2010 season with a 1-0 win over the Middle Tennessee State U.Blue Raiders.
It was not only the start of a new season, but also the first game for Matthew Mott, who made his head coaching debut after being an assistant coach at Auburn (1999-2005) and Texas (2006-2009).
“It’s (a big win) for us,” Mott said. “With all the change that’s gone on with a new team and new coaches, to get a win right off the bat is big for our program. (It’s big) to really get (our players) to believe and buy into everything we’re doing.”
Mott was not the only new face to make an impact in the Rebels’ first game of the season. Freshmen Mandy McCalla and Erin Emerson, who played on the same club team in metro Atlanta, also impressed in their Ole Miss debut.
McCalla missed just wide of the post in the ninth minute and again in the 59th minute. Emerson nearly doubled the Ole Miss lead in the closing seconds of the game, but was denied by a diving save from MTSU’s keeper.
“(The freshmen) played really well, especially for their first college game,” Mott said. “They were all over the place.”
Freshmen Ally Nikolaus, A’Shanae Monroe, and Lindsey Walter also saw their first college action in Friday night’s game.
On a free kick in the 64th minute, senior preseason All-SEC midfielder Taylor Cunningham nearly scored the game’s first goal, but her shot hit off the crossbar.
Jordan, who had a game-high three shots on goal, finished her opportunity in the 71st minute, but it was the offensive buildup from the back and a timely run from Breathitt that created the scoring chance for the Rebels.
“(The play) came from midfield,” Jordan said. “(My teammates) got the ball out wide to Kelsey (Breathitt). Erin (Emerson) made a great near post run to drag the defense out and give me a gap. And I just kept it low on my shot.”
Ole Miss dominated possession and continued to put pressure on MTSU’s defense after halftime, out-shooting the Blue Raiders 12-2 and earning four corners in the second half.
Junior keeper Alley Ronaldi came up big for Ole Miss in the first half, making three key diving saves on MTSU breakaways.
“Middle Tennessee State is a good team,” Mott said. “They score a lot of goals. So for us to keep them off the board was something we’re real happy about it. I think Alley Ronaldi played really well for us. (She) made a couple of huge breakaway saves.”
“Right now, this time of the season, you’re not the sharpest you’re going to be in the next couple of months,” Mott said. “So we’ll take a 1-0 win and move on.”
Ole Miss returns to action next weekend with games against Western Kentucky on Friday night and UAB on Sunday afternoon.