Rebel Soccer Gives Back with OPC

OXFORD, Miss. - Every year, the Oxford community shows out in droves at the Ole Miss Soccer Stadium to cheer on the Rebels. However, over the past few years the members of the Rebel soccer team have been able to flip the script and turn into fans themselves, thanks to a partnership with the Oxford Parks Commission.

As part of the program, Rebel players are paired with a youth team organized through OPC with one simple mission, show up and cheer on the youngsters playing the game that has had such a pivotal role in their lives.

"We go out there two or three times a week to support the OPC youth soccer teams," said junior team captain Gabby Little. "We're basically just their cheerleaders. We help them out if they need anything but we're mostly just encouraging them to stay competitive and positive and working on teamwork."

Little remembers a time when collegiate athletes pushed her to work harder and achieve her goals of competing on the highest level of college soccer. Now with those goals accomplished, she relishes the opportunity to repay the favor.

"Once I got a little bit older there were more college-aged people coming out to my games and I think for me that was a big influence," she said. "You know you think of them so highly when you're young, it's such a great influencer to continue to work hard and play as a team."

The forward has earned a great platform to become the student-athlete that once encouraged her when she was developing her game. The experience is a truly humbling one, having been on both sides.

"Every goal they scored they would look and be like "I did that!" They're looking for so much encouragement and it's so rewarding to see how much of an influence you can have. To see how excited they are to see me at their games and or even asking before I get there "is she coming?" It's touching to see how much I can affect these girls and encourage them to be strong women in the future."

Lonnie Mulligan, one of a handful of Mississippi natives on the Rebel roster, did not have these same opportunities as a youth player growing up in Hattiesburg, an area where the popularity of the Beautiful Game is still developing.

"For me, being in an area where soccer isn't as popular we didn't really have collegiate athletes coming out to support us," she said. "Our coaches were there for us as well as our family but it is really beneficial to know that I'm giving them something that I didn't receive when I was at that age."

Having recently concluded her first collegiate season, Mulligan sees the opportunity to not only give back, but to also enrich her college experience during her time in Oxford.

"I think it makes being a part of this Ole Miss experience even better as a player," said Mulligan. "Not only are we getting better on the field but off the field we're learning to grow and be supportive of the community. It brings back that Ole Miss atmosphere and let's everybody know that we're all here for each other in this tight-knit community."

When she pledged her commitment to Ole Miss, rising senior goalkeeper Claire Williams was also committing to move nearly 2,000 miles away from her native California. Over the years the college town in northern Mississippi has become a second home to her, and she sees the partnership with OPC as an avenue opportunity to give young girls a similar experience.

"Oxford has really embraced me coming from so far in California so it's awesome I get to be involved and give back to that same community that has made this feel like home. If I can make the soccer field a comfortable place for these girls then I'm extremely grateful to be able to do that."

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Players Mentioned

Gabby Little

Lonnie Mulligan

Claire Williams

The University of Mississippi Athletics