Soccer Drops Decision at Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. - Karen Hall scored twice in the first half and Ole Miss tacked on another in the second period, defeating Middle Tennessee, 3-0, Friday night at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium.

The homestanding Rebels wasted little time attacking, and Blue Raider keeper Danielle Perreault was up to the challenge, making a terrific save just 10 minutes into the match. But UM scored two minutes later, as Leigh Barrow fed Hall for her third goal of the season, beating Perreault low and right for a 1-0 Ole Miss advantage.

The Blue Raiders had a chance in the 23rd minute to even the match, as Christina Mascaro's blast from 15 yards sailed high and over the net.

The Rebels eventually put another score on the board in the 30th minute, as Hall netted her second of the match for a 2-0 UM lead.

Middle Tennessee's Laura Miguez and Danielle LaDuke worked hard for the ball in the 32md minute, with Miguez sliding the ball wide to Emily Carter for a shot from 18 yards, but UM keeper Brittany Gillespie was up to the challenge, making the save and keeping the Blue Raiders off the board.

Ole Miss countered off the save, hitting the crossbar with a shot, but the Blue Raiders cleared the ball before another scoring chance could be had by the home team.

Middle Tennessee had another scoring opportunity in the 40th minute, with Claire Ward taking a direct kick from just outside the box, but Ward's shot sailed high.

The Rebels almost got another score in the final minute of the half, but a scramble in front ended with Perreault picking up a loose ball, keeping the score at 2-0 heading into the half.

Ole Miss started strong again after the break, and again Perreault made a great save just five minutes into the period to keep into a two-goal Blue Raider deficit.

Neither team could muster much of an attack for the next 30 minutes, though the Rebels continued to pepper Perreault with long shots. UM's Hillary Beckman netted a goal in the 73rd minute, taking a blast from 25 yards and beating Perreault low and right for a 3-0 home team lead.

Perreault again made another save, as Beckman blasted a shot from 10 yards in the 82nd minute, but the Blue Raider keeper batted the ball away.

Perreault made 11 saves, as the Rebels outshot Middle Tennessee, 25-8.

Middle Tennessee takes on Mississippi State Sunday in Starkville at 1 p.m. before returning home to open conference action next Friday at 3 p.m. versus Florida International.