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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
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Mississippi State
Soccer Begins Conference Play against Mississippi State
9/10/2026 | Soccer
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss soccer will begin Southeastern Conference play on Friday against in-state rival Mississippi State at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on SEC Network+.
• Ole Miss has won three straight matches since falling to No. 24 Memphis, earning shutout victories over ULM, South Alabama and Belmont.
• Ole Miss has recorded six shutouts through its first eight matches of the season, including three straight clean sheets. It’s the most shutouts in the first eight games of a season since 2017.
• The Rebels have outscored opponents 11-4 this season and are holding teams to 0.50 goals per match. Ole Miss has outshot opponents 120-55 while holding a 44-17 advantage in shots on goal.
• Eight different Rebels have scored this season: Becca Skinner, Ava Ghoreishi, Teaghan Irvin, Audrey Shackelford, Sarah Granno, Isabella Pontieri, Katie Ramsden and Paxton Bock. Ghoreishi leads Ole Miss with two game-winning goals, both coming in 1-0 victories against College of Charleston and Belmont.
• Taylor Prigge owns a 6-1-0 record in goal with a 0.57 goals-against average, .750 save percentage and four shutouts. Kolski and Studer have played all 720 minutes this season, helping anchor an Ole Miss defense that has allowed just four goals.
• The Rebels have not allowed a goal in their last 270 minutes of action.
A NEW ERA
Ole Miss begins a new chapter in 2026 under first-year head coach Todd Shulenberger, who was named the fourth head coach in program history on Dec. 1, 2025.
Shulenberger came to Oxford after 11 seasons at Washington State, where he became the winningest coach in program history with a 113-67-34 record. He led the Cougars to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the program’s first College Cup appearance in 2019.
During his time at Washington State, Shulenberger coached 43 all-conference selections and 10 players who were drafted into the NWSL or USL Super League.
LAST TIME OUT
Ole Miss earned its third consecutive victory Sunday, defeating Belmont 1-0 at Ole Miss Soccer Stadium. Ava Ghoreishi scored the match’s lone goal in the 15th minute, finishing a pass from Becca Skinner for her second goal of the season. The Rebels controlled the match with a 15-2 advantage in shots, including a 10-0 margin during the first half, and earned six corner kicks. Taylor Prigge and Anna Claire Jacobi each played 45 minutes in goal as Ole Miss held Belmont without a shot on goal and secured its fifth shutout of the season. The win improved the Rebels to 7-1-0.
SCOUTING REPORT: MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State enters the matchup with a 6-1-0 record after opening the season with six consecutive victories. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 17-6 while holding a 127-34 advantage in shots and a 59-12 edge in corner kicks. Mississippi State suffered its first loss of the season Sunday, falling 3-0 to Charlotte after allowing just three total goals across its first six matches. Hailey Johnson leads the Bulldogs with four goals, three assists and 11 points, including two game-winning goals. Kati Anne Shepherd has added three goals and three assists, while Laila Murillo has scored three times. Jenny Harrison has started all seven matches in goal, posting a 6-1-0 record, a 0.79 goals-against average and two solo shutouts. Mississippi State has recorded three shutouts as a team.
A GLANCE AT 2025
Ole Miss finished the 2025 season 4-8-3 overall, including a 3-3-2 record at home. The Rebels went 4-1 in non-conference play and began the year with wins in four of their first five matches.
The Rebels scored 13 goals in 2025, with eight of those goals coming from players who return to the 2026 roster. Ole Miss also recorded four shutouts, including three straight clean sheets against Southern Miss, UT Martin and Louisiana.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
Katie Ramsden returns after leading Ole Miss in goals, points, shots and shots on goal in 2025. Ramsden started all 15 matches and finished the season with four goals, one assist, nine points, 24 shots and 11 shots on goal.
Sarah Granno also returns after finishing second on the team with two goals and five points. Tate Blincoe and Evie Ewing each scored one goal last season, giving the Rebels four returning goal scorers from the 2025 roster.
BETWEEN THE POSTS
The Ole Miss goalkeeper room features Taylor Prigge, Anna Claire Jacobi and Sienna Smart in 2026. Prigge returns after appearing in five matches and making four starts last season. She posted a team-best .750 save percentage, made 21 saves and recorded one shutout. Jacobi comes to Oxford from Appalachian State, while Smart joins the Rebels from Michigan.
ROSTER RESET
The Rebels enter the 2026 season with a 30-player roster that features a mix of returning experience, transfer additions and high school signees.
A total of 14 transfers and three true freshmen round out the 17 newcomers. The roster includes student-athletes from 16 states, as well as Katie Ramsden, a native of Leeds, England.
TRANSFER TRAIL
Ole Miss enters 2026 with a roster that features a strong transfer presence, including eight players who followed Todd Shulenberger from Washington State.
Audrey Shackelford, Keira Mitchell, Alena Watts, Maizy Kluksdal, Ava Ghoreishi, Becca Skinner, Isabelle Wright and Jenna Studer all list Washington State as their previous college.
HERMANN WATCH
Isabella Pontieri became the latest Rebel to earn national preseason recognition after being named to the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch List by United Soccer Coaches.
Pontieri was one of 45 midfielders added to the watch list and one of seven from the SEC. The North Florida transfer came to Oxford after playing in 57 matches from 2023-25, scoring 14 goals and adding 12 assists over more than 2,700 minutes.
In 2025, Pontieri earned first-team All-ASUN honors after leading the conference in assists, shots on goal, total shots and game-winning goals. She finished the season with 10 assists, 44 shots on goal, 101 total shots, five game-winning goals and eight goals.
PRESEASON NODS
Ole Miss had five players selected to the 2026 SEC Soccer Preseason Watch List, with Paxton Bock, Ava Ghoreishi, Audrey Shackelford, Jenna Studer and Alena Watts earning recognition from the league office.
All five Rebels are in their first season at Ole Miss. Bock comes to Oxford after spending two seasons at SMU, while Ghoreishi, Shackelford, Studer and Watts all transferred from Washington State. Shackelford earned All-WCC Second Team honors in 2025 after scoring two goals and adding four assists, while Studer enters the season with 75 career matches and more than 5,000 minutes played.
STAY CONNECTED
Get rewarded for attending events by joining Rebel Rewards powered by Coca-Cola, the official fan loyalty program of the Ole Miss Rebels. Download the Ole Miss Sports mobile app, sign up for a Rebel Rewards account, and start earning points immediately that can be redeemed for exclusive prizes and experiences.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Rebels by following Ole Miss Soccer on X at @OleMissSoccer, on the Ole Miss Soccer Facebook page, and on Instagram at @officialolemisssoccer.
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