Ole Miss Soccer Faces Auburn in First SEC Road Game of the Season

The Rebels come into this match having achieved six shutouts in their first nine games, with four of those occurring in the last five matches. They have outshot their opponents 131-68, including a significant 51-25 advantage in shots on goal. Furthermore, Ole Miss has earned 61 corner kicks while only conceding 27. Eight players have contributed goals this season, with Sarah Granno, Ava Ghoreishi, Teaghan Irvin, and Becca Skinner each leading the team with two goals and five points. Ghoreishi also stands out with two game-winning goals.

This season, Ole Miss has utilized nine different starting lineups, with 18 players getting at least one start. Granno, Maizy Kluksdal, Alena Watts, Allison Kolski, and Jenna Studer have participated in every match. The team holds a record of 4-2-0 at home and 3-0-0 on the road.

Taylor Prigge has been pivotal in the goal, contributing to six shutouts, including four solo clean sheets and two shared with Anna Claire Jacobi.

In 2026, Ole Miss begins a new chapter under head coach Todd Shulenberger, who took the reins as the fourth head coach in program history on December 1, 2025. Shulenberger previously led Washington State, becoming the winningest coach there with a 113-67-34 record and guiding the team to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including reaching the College Cup in 2019.

Ole Miss' last outing ended in a 4-1 loss to Mississippi State in their SEC opener, which dropped their overall record to 7-2-0 and 0-1-0 in conference play. The Rebels initially equalized with a goal from Sarah Granno in the 56th minute, but the game shifted when they went down to ten players in the 69th minute, leading to three late goals from the Bulldogs. Ole Miss had a slight edge in possession and corner kicks but was outshot 13-11.

Auburn will enter Friday's contest with a 4-1-3 overall record and an identical 0-1 in SEC play. After starting the season unbeaten in seven matches, they suffered a 1-0 defeat to No. 11 Alabama in their last game. The Tigers boast a strong defense, with six shutouts and just two goals conceded across eight matches. They have scored 14 goals this season, led by Dylan Driver, who has three goals and eight points.

Last season, Ole Miss finished with a record of 4-8-3, including a 3-3-2 record at home. They started strong in non-conference play, winning four of their first five matches. Key returning players include Katie Ramsden, who led in goals and points last season, along with Sarah Granno and others who contributed to the team’s scoring.

In goal, the Rebels' lineup features Taylor Prigge, Anna Claire Jacobi, and Sienna Smart. Prigge achieved a .750 save percentage in five matches last year, while Jacobi joins from Appalachian State and Smart from Michigan.

The Ole Miss roster consists of 30 players, with a mix of experience, recent transfers, and new high school recruits. Notably, eight of the transfers followed Shulenberger from Washington State.

Isabella Pontieri was recently named to the 2026 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy NCAA Division I Women’s Players to Watch List, marking a significant recognition. The Rebels also had five players included on the 2026 SEC Soccer Preseason Watch List, all of whom are first-year players at Ole Miss.

Fans are encouraged to engage with the Ole Miss Soccer program through their social media platforms and be part of the Rebel Rewards program by downloading the Ole Miss Sports mobile app.