When the final whistle blew on the 2014 Ole Miss soccer season, Kelly McCormick left the field as one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in program history.
A four-year starter, she was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week three times. She holds Ole Miss career records in saves and minutes played. She is tied for first in shutouts and, most importantly, first in wins.
“Kelly set the standard for our goalkeeping,” Ole Miss head coach Matthew Mott said. “The way she trained, the way she performed, the way she carried herself on and off the field. That’s what we want to carry on. She was able to show them what our expectations are, push them, and help them understand what they need to be and what they need to do.”
Stepping in for McCormick this season is redshirt freshman Marnie Merritt, who has earned the starting nod in the Rebels’ first two games.
“Kelly taught me a lot. Her calmness and composure in the SEC made a huge difference,” Merritt said. “She helped me get accustomed to the way Ole Miss soccer plays and to the college level, which is so much different from the high school or club level. Just getting acclimated to that was a really big help.”
Merritt had an accomplished high school career in North Carolina. She was named All-State and an All-American at Hough High School, where she helped the Huskies to state titles in 2012 and 2014 and a trip to the finals in 2013. She has also participated in youth national team camps for both the United States and Canada.
“It was an awesome experience,” Merritt said. “It’s kind of the same level of intensity as it is out here, and I think it helped me learn the ability to calm my nerves.”
Merritt has been solid in the Rebels’ first two games of the season. She made two saves in a scoreless draw with Florida Gulf Coast, then didn’t have much to do in a 4-0 win over Boise State as the Rebel defense prevented the Broncos from taking a single shot.
“She’s played much more mature than a redshirt freshman,” Mott said. “We went into a hostile environment at Florida Gulf Coast. The fans were going crazy at her, and she handled it great. Then she came back here and was really steady for us last Sunday.”
Sophomore midfielder Courtney Carroll, teammates with Merritt since ninth grade, has witnessed firsthand Merritt’s growth as a player.
“She’s a very hardworking player and she definitely tries to target and work on her weaknesses,” Carroll said. “Over the last year her kicking has strengthened exponentially and she looks so much more composed.”
Both Carroll and Mott are confident in Merritt’s ability to be McCormick’s successor.
“She covers the goal well and is a good shot blocker,” Carroll said. “The way she talks is very confident and it allows you to trust her more. I have so much confidence with her back there because I know she’s such a good goalie.”
“I think the sky’s the limit for her,” Mott said. “She’s only going to get better and better. She’s fearless. I’m really excited about what her future is going to look like.”
