OXFORD Miss. – CeCe Kizer recorded a hat trick and Alley Houghton picked up three assists and one goal in the first half as Ole Miss spoiled the season opener for the Alabama State University women's soccer team with an 8-0 win on Friday night.
In front of a packed house at the Ole Miss Soccer Complex for its season opener, Ole Miss (1-0-0) wasted little time getting on the board as CeCe Kizer scored off an assist by Chanel Thomas with a chip over Alabama State goalkeeper
Gianna Guyot to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead in just the fourth minute.
Kizer wasn't finished as she added her second goal off an assist by Alley Houghton in the 31st minute and wrapped up the hat trick just 22 seconds later off another assist by Houghton.
The Rebels put the game away as Grace Johnson, Alyssa Frazier and Houghton all found the back of the net in the first half as Ole Miss took a 6-0 lead into the break.
The best chance for the Lady Hornets (0-1-0) came in the 63rd minute as
Teaggan Ilela's shot forced Ole Miss goalkeeper to make a diving stop.
The Rebels also got goals by Mary Kate Smith and Emily Holten in the second half.
Turning Point
After giving up an early goal to Ole Miss, the Alabama State defense settled down and Guyot made some terrific saves. However, Kizer proved to be just too much as she scored two goals in just 22 seconds and turned a 1-0 lead into a 3-0 advantage.
Houghton also played a pivotal role as she assisted on the last two Kizer goals. The Oxford, Miss. native completed her trifecta of assists with Frazier's goal and provided the knockout punch with the sixth goal of the night.
Inside the Numbers
• Ole Miss out-shot Alabama State in the opening half, 22-3, and for the game, 35-4.
• ASU's Guyot finished with nine saves in 90 minutes in goal.
• Williams, playing in replace of Marnie Merritt, who was suspended due to a red card against Tennessee to close out the 2016 season, recorded two saves.
• The Rebels led the way in corner kicks with a 10 -0 advantage.
• The six first-half goals given up match the six surrendered in the first half against South Carolina in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament.
• Dating back to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship game, Alabama State has gone 207:27 minutes without a goal.
News & Notes
• Alabama State faced its second consecutive SEC opponent in as many games as the Lady Hornets dropped a 7-0 decision to South Carolina in the NCAA Division I Women's Tournament to conclude last season.
• Friday's game marked the first time in school history that Alabama State has opened its women's soccer season in the state of Mississippi.
• Lady Hornets head coach
Jodie Smith (11th year) is 4-11-1 in Mississippi; 28-55-1 on Friday and 15-27-2 in games played at 7 p.m.
• After Friday's loss to Ole Miss, Alabama State continues to seek its first-ever season-opening victory. Dating back to the 2004 season, the Lady Hornets have yet to win a season-opening match.
• Alabama State wasn't the only SWAC institution to take on an SEC opponent as Mississippi Valley State opened the season on Friday and fell to LSU, 5-0.
Up Next
Alabama State will have one day of rest before traveling to Oxford, Ala. to take on Jacksonville State on Sunday. Kickoff against the Gamecocks is set for 1 p.m. from the JSU Soccer Complex. Jacksonville State opened the season on Friday in Tuscaloosa against Alabama as the Crimson Tide broke a 1-1 first-half tie and defeated the Gamecocks, 5-1.
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State women's soccer, please follow the Hornets on social media at @BamaStateWSC (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State Athletics at BamaStateSports.com.
