IUP Athletics Feature: Mahogany Willis

INDIANA, Pa. - IUPAthletics.com caught up with rising junior women's soccer forward, Mahogany Willis.

Through two quick seasons in the crimson and gray, Mahogany Willis has turned herself into the program's best goal scorer in more than a decade. 

In just 37 career games, Willis is already tied with Tia Kipp for eighth in IUP history with 29 goals. Only three IUP players have scored 50 in a career - 65 by Sarah Romasco (2006-09) in 87 games, 59 by Erin Falce (2003-06) in 79 games, and 50 by Heather Robbins (2003-06) in 73 games. Although none have scored at the same clip Willis has so far as she boasts a program-leading .784 goals per game average. 

Willis has seven career multi-goal games, tying the program record with four scores in the 2019 season-opener against Glenville State. She added an assist against the Pioneers to set a new school-record with nine points. She went on to rank second in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference with 15 goals, including six game-winners, and 23rd in Division II with a 0.79 goals per game average. Her 35 points led the team and ranked third in the conference. Willis earned first team All-PSAC and second team D2CCA All-Atlantic Region honors. 

Willis earned third team All-PSAC honors as a breakout freshman in 2018, leading the team with 14 goals and 29 points in 18 games. She posted five game-winners and scored both goals in a 2-1 upset victory over No. 23 Slippery Rock. In fact, in four career games against The Rock, Willis has 11 total points, tallying five goals and an assist. 

With the PSAC postponing sports in the fall semester due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Willis was not able to flash her standout play on the pitch. But as an emerging - and albeit quiet - leader for the Crimson Hawks and with a good bit of incoming and returning talent around her, she is confident and excited so show everyone what the program can become when it returns. 

Where are you right now?  

Right now I am currently living at off campus housing in Indiana.  

How has your transition been to an online class format?

Transitioning to online at first was difficult for me. Not because of the learning but since I am a Communications Media major, we have labs like Audio Production and Video Game Design where we need certain software that the school has on its computers. So that was a hard transition, but otherwise, I had a good transition for me other classes.

What gives you encouragement and motivation during this time?

My motivation is honestly knowing that hopefully soon athletics can go back to the new normal so I can play the sport I love with my best friends by my side.  

What positives have you taken away from everything that is happening in the world over the last several months?

The positives I have been seeing are how aware people are now of how germs spread. I personally get called the “germ freak” by my friends because I always had hand sanitizer or something with me. I think the world needed a wake up call. People take a lot of things not seriously but this virus spread and it spread fast enough for EVERYONE to finally be concerned. The positives athletic-wise I would say I have finally given my body a break. I have been playing soccer since I was 3 and I am 21 now. I played travel from age 8 and would be flying to games in Florida. Practicing three times a week with games every weekend. My whole life has been soccer. My body is having some time to rest for the first time in over 10 years.  

How have you been dealing with less time with your team this fall and the lack of competition?

I have been dealing okay with the less time with my team. It’s hard for us not all wanting to hangout in groups though. Also, we haven't’ really met our incoming freshmen like we wouldn’t wanted to. Competition wise I know this is for our safety and I would not want me, coach, or any of my teammates hospitalized because we had to play, so I understand about not competing right now. Shout out to Rob Baron, our athletic trainer, for keeping us in check.  

How’s your game coming along? What areas have you focused on improving since last fall?

Since last fall I worked all summer on some foot skill I wanted to bring to my game this season. My dad always says have two moves every season so no one sees it coming. I’m also improving on my running. All summer I ran at least two miles a day and did HIIT workouts after to help strengthen my lungs.  

Talk about becoming an upperclassman and one of the more experienced members of the team this year. How have you worked on becoming more of a team leader?

I would personally say I am a very quiet leader. I let the captains do their thing, but when it comes to my little squad of forwards I kind of take over and help the sophomores. I played up top with Sammy Joyce and Alayna Ryan. They were a huge part of my success last season! We worked together very well. I never wanted to be the upperclassman they should be scared of. I love my team and whoever scores to win the game does not matter! Someone got you the ball and we all won in the end!

With the returning talent along with the incoming players, talk about your expectations and excitement for this year’s team.

My expectations for this season are very high. Coach brought in very high-level players and some new freshmen forwards who I think will be our secret weapons. I truly think we can go far. Although we cannot team bond all together, when in our pods at practice I see how encouraging they are during team runs. That just shows me a good teammate. There is no barrier for us between classes like there has been in the past. So I think our success this year will be amazing! I really hope we get to play in the spring, especially one last time with my seniors.

Do you have any plans or goals for after graduation?

After graduation I plan on entering the workforce. I am majoring in communications media marketing with a minor in journalism. I love writing and editing so I plan on being an editor for corporate company’s websites and advertisements.  

What advice do you give to your fellow Crimson Hawks?

My fellow Crimson Hawks, COVID is not going to hold us down for long. We are all in this together, just please be safe and follow the rules that our coaches and trainers are doing to keep us all safe. So this we can all play in the spring!

Why did you choose to attend IUP?

I chose to attend IUP for multiple reasons. I had two full ride offers from other colleges. I was actually committed somewhere else before I chose IUP to be my home. I de-committed from there as soon as I saw the IUP campus and atmosphere it had. I wanted to true college experience and at the other two schools I could not see myself happy for four years. My old club teammate Makenzie Witzel texted me and told me how she played on the team here and that she thought it would be a great fit for me. I instantly toured with the coaching staff and I was so surprised about how much I loved it and how it felt like home. In the end, I am so glad I chose IUP. I have great teammates and friends who I love being around and have become my IUP family, I have a coach who actually is understanding, and I have the best training staff who keeps me healthy.