Four years ago, Jill Currie and Meredith Mayo arrived in Charlotte as eager, highly-touted freshmen. This year, they will lead the 49ers’ women’s soccer team as confident and accomplished seniors.
The players and coaches have high hopes of returning to the Conference USA Championship and ultimately the NCAA Tournament. While expectations are high, Currie and Mayo are poised to make the most of their final year.
Currie, who hails from Shelby, N.C., is the reigning C-USA Player of the Year and was a 2000 preseason all-conference selection. While these personal accolades mean a lot to Currie, the success of the team comes first.
“Our goals are to win the conference title outright, win the C-USA tournament and get back to the NCAAs,” said Currie. “We’ve got to play each and every game like it’s our last.”
Mayo, from Collierville, Tenn., shared preseason all-conference honors with Currie and threatens to score any time she touches the ball. Being a senior carries certain responsibilities, but Mayo is up to the task.
“We have a really young team, and it’s up to us to help and guide the younger players,” said Mayo. “Jill and I have seen a lot over the last four years and our experience allows us to be leaders.”
Confident in their abilities as leaders and playmakers, head coach Neil Roberts has mixed up the rotation and put both girls up front as strikers. Moving Currie from her usual midfield position, Roberts hopes the switch will enable them to create and finish numerous scoring opportunities.
“These girls have skills that are impossible to teach. They play at such a sophisticated level and it raises the play of the rest of the team,” said Roberts.
The results look promising so far, with Currie having scored nine goals and tacking on 11 assists. Mayo has tallied five goals and nine assists.
Practicing and playing four years together has definitely paid its dividends.
“We have been through so much and have been in so many situations together on the field and sometimes we just have to take control,” Currie said. “We have matured as people and players.”
With the end of their collegiate careers right around the corner, and the implementation of a women’s professional league, what does the future hold for these two stars?
“After graduation, I hope to go into the ministry,” Currie said. “Soccer has been a positive experience: mentally, spiritually and physically.”
Mayo, a psychology major, said, “I hope to get a good job and make a lot of money. Soccer has been great, and I hope to go out on top.”
