Oak Grove senior Lonnie Mulligan has a lofty goal in mind this season, and that’s to break the school record for goals scored in a season. Amelie Peterson set the school record with 43 goals during the 1999-00 season, and Mulligan is going for it this season.
“There’s a record, so that’s the ultimate goal,” she said. “I realized last year that I want to try to exceed the most I can possibly get. I’m reaching for 40.”
Mulligan scored 32 goals last season, claiming her goal was to get 22 prior to the season, though, and Oak Grove coach Clay Smith said she would have broken the school record if it weren’t for game cancellations.
“In 26 years of coaching, you have to have a goal scorer to be successful, and goal scoring is such an art,” Smith said. “I’ve seen some players on some teams, and even my teams, they’re the prettiest player getting up to the goal, but when they get up to the pressure situation, they’re just not a finisher.
“Lonnie has God-given talent as a finisher.”
Mulligan, an Ole Miss commit, had a target on her back last season. As the year went on, she said teams began playing her tougher. She scored in all but two games, posting multiple goals 10 games.
Some teams would pack the field so the Lady Warriors’ attack would be stifled, and some wouldn’t even come out of their defensive third part of the field either. Even when the Lady Warriors pulled the ball back out to try and stretch the defense, the opponent wouldn’t come out.
That means Oak Grove will have to beat teams on the dribble and be precise with its passing.
The best example of teams trying to lock Mulligan down more was the two Ocean Springs games. In the first meeting, Mulligan scored four goals in a 5-2 win, but when the two met in the playoffs, the Lady ’Hounds held her scoreless.
“I think I wasn’t expecting it to be as big of a change from the beginning of the season to the end,” she said. “For an example, when we played Ocean Springs at the beginning of the season we beat them, and at the end, they kicked us out. Just knowing I have to change up my game and be on my toes constantly, I can’t take anything for granted.”
Speaking of the Ocean Springs playoff game, the Lady Warriors have moved passed it. A Lady Greyhound collided with the Oak Grove goalkeeper late in the second-round contest, but instead of the keeper getting the call, like what happens most of the time, Ocean Springs was awarded a penalty kick.
The Lady ’Hounds took advantage of the situation, scored and moved on to the next round. Ocean Springs would eventually advance to the 6A State Championship, but it fell to Northwest Rankin in overtime.
Mulligan said that night is still talked about among her team, but not in “what if” instances. Oak Grove has learned from it, she said, and will hopefully avoid situations like that in the future.
“We talk about it, but it’s one of those things where it was a really emotional day,” she said. “We don’t bring up the negative side. We bring up the positive sides. We’re changing a bunch of things because of the way that happened. Now we know that won’t happen again. We shouldn’t have to get into a game where one call can decide the game.”
Not only is Mulligan a threat to score, but also the entire offensive attack for the Lady Warriors will be dangerous. Junior Maggie Starns returns this season after scoring 13 goals, and Mulligan’s sister, Zylah, scored five goals as a freshman. In a scrimmage with Sumrall Saturday, Zylah scored three goals in a 4-0 win.
Smith believes his team’s counterattack will be the biggest strength.
“I’m very confident that we’ll score some goals,” Smith said. “We’re going to have a lot of speed up top. Last year, (opponents) could concentrate on doubling-up Lonnie and trying to defend against her speed and goal-scoring abilities, but this year, I have some outside players and midfield players who are a year older and a year faster. They’re going to be something the other team is going to have to deal with.”
With all of the success Lonnie has seen, like the goals scored and committing to play at the next level, she wants even more for her sister. She’s even OK with sharing goal-scoring opportunities.
“I want better for her than I do myself,” Lonnie said. “She’s my best friend and little sister, so I’m excited to see her reach her goals. I’ve reached my goal by committing to play at the next level, so now it’s to get her to play where she wants to play. That’s my goal as the big sister.
“The crazy part is, we’ve been on the same team for awhile, so I know how she plays and I know how she thinks. Being in the house with her, I know how to talk to her, how not to talk to her and not to sass her because she’ll shut down. I know her inside and out because she’s just like me.”
