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Siri Mullinix

Siri Mullinix returns for her second season as the assistant women’s soccer coach at UNC Greensboro in 2006. The former United States Olympic goalkeeper returned to her hometown and the site on which she won a collegiate national championship when she was named to her post on May 23, 2005.

In her second season in 2006, the Spartans tallied a 13-8-2 overall record and finished first in the Southern Conference with an unbeaten record of 12-0-1. Mullinix helped the goalkeeping unit finish with eight shutouts and allowing 21 goals in 23 games. UNCG also finished third in the SoCon in goals allowed and second in goals against average.

During her first season with the Spartans, the club posted an 11-7-1 record and a third place finish in the Southern Conference with a 6-3-1 league slate. Under the watchful eye of Mullinix, the UNCG goalkeeping core allowed a mere 16 goals in 19 games for a 0.80 goals against average. The club posted nine shutouts on the season, including seven by Jennifer Stillman, who also produced the third lowest GAA in school history with a 0.91 mark.

Mullinix won an NCAA title on the UNCG campus as a member of the North Carolina team in 1997. She went on to earn a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. As the starting keeper for the U.S. team in 2000, she appeared in 29 matches, with a record 28 starts. She also set a record with 15 shutouts during the calendar year, recording an 18-5-5 mark with a 0.60 goals against average.

Mullinix spent three seasons with the Washington Freedom in the WUSA. The squad made back-to-back Founders Cup game appearances in 2002 and 2003, winning the 2003 championship. In 2003, Mullinix earned a place on the WUSA All-Star team.

At UNC, Mullinix was a three-year starter, appearing in 90 matches during her career. She won two NCAA titles and three ACC championships during her time with the Tar Heels under legendary coach Anson Dorrance. During her freshman season, she backed up All-American Tracy Ducar. Mullinix played in 25 games as a sophomore, allowing just six goals in the 1996 season.

The following season, she appeared in 26 games and allowed just three goals in the 1997 season, recording a 0.19 GAA and leading UNC to the national championship, which was held at UNCG Soccer Stadium. For her performance in the national semifinals and championship game, Mullinix earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors.

In her senior season, she started all 26 games, leading North Carolina back to the national title game. For her collegiate career, Mullinix had a 0.27 GAA, second-best in school-history.

Mullinix is a product of Ragsdale High School, where she earned all-state honors as a sophomore and junior. Mullinix graduated early from high school and began attending UNC in what would normally have been her senior year.

Katie O’Connor: Do you consider yourself a role model?

Yes, I consider myself a role model. As a former professional athlete and current college coach, you always have young girls looking up to you, aspiring to one day also be just like you and who have dreams of being a professional athlete.

What is your greatest athletic achievement?

I would have to say playing in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Playing for my country and bringing home a silver medal is something I think most kids only dream of. To actually get to live that dream was the most incredible experience of my career.

You coach soccer at UNC Greensboro. What do you feel is the most important quality for your girls to possess?

I think it is important for my girls to possess qualities such as dedication, desire, and commitment. They have to be willing to work very hard on and off the field.

What is your most vivid childhood memory?

What I remember most about my child hood is all of the competitive, fun battles I had with my two sisters. We spent most of our childhood playing sports or engaging in different activities, ranging from 3-legged soccer to swinging from trees by our knees or being dare devils on the trampoline in the backyard. There was never a dull moment and it made us tougher. They turned out to be a great support system for me as we went our own separate ways. Even to this day we laugh about all the crazy, fun stuff we did growing up.

You play the goalkeeper position. Do you feel it is more or less difficult than the other positions on the field?

I believe that playing in goal is a very difficult position. There might be days when the job is less physically demanding compared to the demands on a field player, but it can be mentally exhausting. A goalkeeper is usually the one who gets lots of fame when a team is winning, but also lots of blame when a team loses. It takes a very unique individual to be a great goalkeeper.

Who is your biggest role model and why?

Growing up one of my biggest role models was Carla Overbeck. As I got older and made the National Team, Carla became one of my closet friends and it seemed funny that when I was 10 I looked up to her and now we are great friends. But I still think Carla is a tremendous person. She helped the sport of soccer grow and she has been a great spokes person for women’s athletics. She trained to be the best and she conquered that during her playing career. Now she is a mother of two and continues to help promote the game of soccer for young girls.

What music do you have on your ipod/cd player right now?

Honestly, I have a little bit of everything. I have about 2000 songs in my ipod. However, a lot of country and The Fray is what I have on my most listened to playlist.

If you could meet any one person, alive or dead, who would they be and why?

I know this might sound cheesy, but I would love to meet John Elway, former quarterback for the Denver Broncos. I have been a Broncos fan since I was a little girl. I was born in Denver. I would love to meet Elway because he was such a great athlete and growing up, there was not professional soccer for women so I looked up to Elway and wanted to be just like him.

What is your favorite food to eat after a big game?

I would have to say I enjoy a good sandwich and fruit right after I have played a big game. There is usually so much emotion that goes on within a game and if I am not drained physically after a game I am usually mentally drained. So sometimes it is hard to eat a large, heavy meal. Also, I know soda is not the greatest ingredient to put in your body, but I love an ice cold Coke after a game.

What would you say to a teenage girl who was considering drinking alcohol?

I would tell them that nothing good has ever come from underage drinking. I would stress the negative effects of underage drinking and let them know that sometimes doing what everyone else is doing or drinking to be popular isn’t always right. Alcohol forces people to make bad decisions and not be able to think clearly.

Why is participating in the Girl Talk program events in North Carolina important to you?

I think the program is wonderful. I believe already it has been an eye opener for moms who didn’t want to face the idea that their child might be exposed to alcohol. There are so many moms that don’t talk to their children about alcohol and the downside to underage drinking. Also, I think that a mom that does talk with their children about alcohol often develop a tighter relationship with their daughters and in return girls will openly talk with their moms if they ever need help or advice about how to deal with the temptations of alcohol.

Any last thoughts?

I know for a fact I would not be where I am today or played at the level I did if I experimented with alcohol at a young age. I was constantly training and competing on the soccer field and alcohol would have prevented me from performing at the standard that was demanded of me to make it to the next level.