The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friendship Keeps Competition In Perspective For Rebel Goalies
7/15/2015 | Soccer
Photo GalleryOXFORD, Miss. - Competition is often said to bring out the best in people.
Usually it's a phrase used in reference to a primal need to succeed. It describes a drive in people to push past others to achieve success and stake an individual claim to greatness in a profession or sport. It brings out a desire to be the best at all costs.
A pair of young keepers at Ole Miss have found that competition truly can bring out the best in people. The duo forge a bond of friendship as the 2015 season approaches and the Rebels look to replace the winningest goalkeeper in program history.
Sophomore Madi Killeen and redshirt freshman Marnie Merritt have a drive to be the best, but more importantly have developed a sisterhood as both keepers push to ready themselves for the season.
It's a new position for both players, finding that a common struggle can unite rather than divide.
"It's funny to me because I've never really hung out with whoever I was competing with for a position," Killeen said. "But with Marnie we just joke a lot and we hang out. When the whole team is hanging out we seem to just find each other. She has such an easy-going personality and it's so easy to talk to her about anything and have someone to talk to about what we're going through."
"We're friends off the field," Merritt said of she and Killeen. "We laugh and we talk and that's been the nicest thing about it. We realize that we're not always competing and we each have someone to lean on. Madi is the only other person on the team who knows what I'm going through every day. It's nice to know that I have that support system in place off the field with her just like I do on the field."
Killeen came to the Rebels for the 2013 season and redshirted behind then junior keeper Kelly McCormick. Killeen was able to take that redshirt season and watch from the sidelines, taking in the game as McCormick helped the Rebels to the most successful season in program history.
Merritt entered the program last season, watching from the sidelines with Killeen as McCormick continued to rewrite the record book before finishing as the all-time leader at Ole Miss in multiple categories in goal. As Merritt adjusted to the speed of the game and also watched Killeen get her first action in goal at Kentucky, both young keepers also knew that the time was coming that one of them would get their turn as the starting keeper for a growing program.
That time on the sidelines together allowed each the opportunity to talk and the beginning of the friendship to start to form.
"Marnie would normally stand toward the front of the line and I would stand near the back," Killeen said of their positioning on the sidelines during games. "We found ourselves walking back and forth throughout the match to talk about what we were seeing from the other team, how to defend it. It was nice to have another keeper on the sidelines to talk about what was happening and to see it through different eyes."
As Merritt watched from the sidelines, she realized in her redshirt season that so much would have to change from her high school career.
"Kelly (McCormick) was so physically fit and I really picked up on that," Merritt said. "She was one of the fittest players on the team and I realized I had to get fit. Just because my position doesn't ask me to be running all the time, didn't mean I could neglect that off the field. It was an eye-opening experience to watch her fitness and reactions to the speed of the game.
"I learned so much last year from both Kelly and Madi. I saw so much and learned how different it's going to be with the difference in the college game and the speed of the SEC. I've learned so much more about how we play soccer at Ole Miss and what the program needs."
That time spent learning about the program hasn't only been watching the opponents on the field, as the two keepers have gotten to learn a lot about each other - including strengths and weaknesses that push them to become better players.
"Madi is so good at balls in the air," Merritt said. "She's very powerful in the air and she's got a length I don't have. She's so technical with her footwork and positioning. We both have our strengths and weaknesses, but she makes me want to be better and stronger. It's good that we push each other."
"Marnie is a more physical keeper than I am, so she has this presence in the goal and I really admire that," Killeen said. "Her bravery out there to just get her nose into any battle is something I'm trying to gain. I've been putting myself out there with teammates to work on that over the summer."
The difference between the two on the field, and the friendship off the field, has not been lost on teammates. Senior defender Maddie Friedmann is one of the most experienced players on the team, playing every minute of the 2014 season on the back line, and noticed the supportive relationship between the two young keepers.
"Madi and Marnie are such an embodiment of what we try to create in this program and on this team," Friedmann said. "They are competing for one of the most difficult spots on the field. There's only one keeper - they don't get subbed in or out a lot. They're so supportive of each other. They are so encouraging to each other and that doesn't happen a lot on other teams I've been a part of, especially when there's only one place to play. They really inspire each other to keep pushing, but it's awesome because they really do have a true friendship. I have never seen a relationship like that work so well on a team. They have truly grabbed that family feel and environment we aspire to here."
Sam Sanders, another senior on the backline echoed the sentiments put forth by Friedmann.
"It's really unique to see them interact because they are so competitive on the field, but off the field they are closer than ever," Sanders said. "It's interesting to watch them competing for one starting position but at the same time be so close with their friendship.
"It will definitely be important for us to help them transition into that role of a starting keeper. They both are so important that it will be critical for us to help them remain calm as one of them takes over the starting keeper job. Both of them are in a great position to help us whichever one steps in goal at the start of the season."
The coaching staff has seen the relationship blossom over the course of the past season, with no one better positioned to see that development than associate head coach Rob Thompson. Thompson works specifically with the keepers and is entering his sixth year with the program.
Thompson watched with interest as the pair sat on the sideline behind the starter McCormick a year ago.
"Those two (Madi and Marnie) really formed a bond as training partners last year and watching Kelly (McCormick) set the standard so they would understand what it would be like moving forward," Thompson said. "It was difficult initially, but as they got the first year under their belt they really settled into training.
"They're both two very good keepers and very dedicated, but the friendship has really brought the best out of each other. It's difficult to be ready to go every training session. There are days they are both ready to go, but when one of them is having a tough day the other one picks her up and makes the training session better. They are helping each other out while both becoming stronger keepers."
As the competition continues throughout the summer months and the preseason, one will emerge as the starter on opening day. Thompson and the coaching staff expect a tight battle until then, but one that sees each player giving her best and bringing out the best in her teammate with both factoring into the success of the program moving forward.
"The way we envision things is once we finally select a starting keeper, we expect that support and friendship will continue," Thompson said. "There's no reason to believe it won't continue, but it's difficult when that first game comes around and one has to be selected as the starter. We need both players, though, and the level of dedication they've both shown is tremendous. No matter which one starts, I expect the other to be right behind her pushing her every day and strengthening the program with that friendship and competition."
Ultimately both players agree that the most important part of the process is finding the keeper who gives the Rebels the best chance for success against opponents. That's the only competition that matters to the duo.
"Madi and I are actually really close," Merritt said. "Most people wouldn't think that the two competing keepers would be close. Obviously, you want to be the one to play, but at the end of the day I want her to be successful too. One of us has to be in goal and if we're both performing to the best of our ability then we have a better chance to win as a program.
"At the end of the day, it's about what best positions us to win," Merritt continued. "If that's Madi in goal or me in goal, then as long as we're winning together we can put aside not being the starter to help Ole Miss achieve the bigger goals."
