Oct. 30, 2003
By Brianna LaBrecque
Athletic Communications Graduate Intern
Going away to college is an adjustment for any student. It usually involves moving away from home for the first time as well as entering a new academic and social environment. Freshmen have to adjust to new living environments with people they have never met, along with the pressures of newfound independence and decision-making. Not only did men's soccer captain Jamie Mullarkey have these challenges to overcome, he also had to adjust to the culture and surroundings of a new country.
Mullarkey is a native of Cramlington, England. While playing for a Newcastle club team in England, Mullarkey caught the eye of college recruiters in the United States. One of these recruiters was from Columbia University where Dennis Bohn was an assistant coach. Bohn and Mullarkey both had important decisions to make-while Bohn was preparing to take an assistant coaching position at Lafayette, Mullarkey was making one of the biggest decisions of his life.
Had he pursued the opportunity, Mullarkey could have played professional soccer in the United Kingdom. Instead, he examined the choices he was given and made the decision to come to the United States to play soccer while also continuing his education and getting a college degree.
"I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever," Mullarkey said. "I settled in fine. The adjustment went easily with school and soccer."
The senior anthropology and sociology major knew that he had the skills to continue to play soccer but decided that it was also important for him to get a degree. Attending college was exactly what Mullarkey was looking for-continuing to compete at a high level athletically as well as academically.
On the academic side of the spectrum, Mullarkey has been part of a team that has consistently held one of the highest grade point averages for Lafayette's athletic teams.
Athletically, Mullarkey has been nothing but successful.
As a freshman, Mullarkey started 15 out of 16 games, ending the season second on the team in goals. In his sophomore year, the forward earned All-Patriot League Second team honors after starting 11 contests. As a junior, Mullarkey was once again the second leading scorer for the Leopards, earning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week honors twice. As a fiery senior captain, Mullarkey has already scored seven goals and earned Player of the Week accolades from the league.
Mullarkey attributes his scoring proficiency to the mentality of the team for the 2003 season.
"As a team we're playing more offensively. We know we need to create things [offensively]," Mullarkey said. "I served Paulo [Coelho '03] the ball a lot last year, and I knew this year I had to do more goal scoring. This is my senior year and I'm trying my hardest."
"It's mainly him going into this year knowing the importance of scoring goals," Bohn, now in his third year as head coach for Lafayette, said about Mullarkey's role for the season. "The responsibility is on him as a senior captain and that is showing in his play."
Both Mullarkey and Bohn see the roles of leader and scorer as an important combination.
Mullarkey sees the team working together with their experience and talent.
"There are nine seniors and two juniors starting and we are all on the same track," Mullarkey said. "But if the team is down I can get them up, get in their faces and rile them up." Ever the team player, Mullarkey's vision for the remainder of the season is leading the team to the Patriot League championship.
"Anything less than a Patriot League Championship is a failure for us. We have to win," Mullarkey said. "Personally I want to continue to score goals and do what it takes to help the team win."
"There is no reason why his goal shouldn't be MVP of the league," Bohn said. "If we have success as a team it's going to be because of his efforts and vice versa. If he is one of the best players then we will be one of the best teams in the league."
Looking further into the future, both coach and player see big things ahead.
"If he commits himself after graduation, he definitely has the talent and ability to play professional soccer, whether here in the U.S. or back in England," Bohn said.
"I'd love to play professionally. You're only young once," Mullarkey said. "I'm 22 years old now, I have eight, nine, maybe 10 years to give."
As for staying in the United States or going back to his native England, Mullarkey does not have much of a preference either way.
"Either way, if you want to do it bad enough, you will," said Mullarkey. "I've adjusted so well here in America, I'll just see what comes to me."
This comes from a student-athlete who, three years ago, walked off a plane without much more than a pair of soccer shoes and the desire to excel on the field and in the classroom. Now one of the most prominent soccer players in the Patriot League, Mullarkey's success is far from over.
