2015 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE | MERCY AKIDE
Mercy Akide, from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, holds three Milligan soccer records: goals in a single game (7), goals in a single season (42) and points in a single season (99). Her 42 goals in 1999 helped Milligan record its winningest season in the history of the soccer program as the team went 19-2-1 and was undefeated in the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference at 5-0.
A communications major, Akide came to Milligan with previous experience at the professional soccer level. Akide continued her professional career with appearances in three FIFA Women’s World Cups: Sweden in 1995 and USA in 1999 and 2003. Akide also competed in the Olympic Games in Sydney (2000) and Athens (2004). In all five international appearances, Akide represented her native Nigeria.
After her Milligan career, Akide played one season with the Hampton Roads Piranhas of the W-League then moved to California where she competed for the San Diego Spirit of the Women's United Soccer Association. With the Spirit, she became the first African woman Player of the Year.
In 2003, Akide rejoined Hampton Roads where she spent three seasons adding to her Hall of Fame resume. In her first season back with the Piranhas, Akide won the league's Most Valuable Player award after scoring the winning goal in the National Championship game. She was later named by FIFA as one of its 15 Ambassadors.
Following her playing days, Akide became a coach and youth development director for various U-16 and U-13 teams in the United States. Akide was inducted into the United Soccer Leagues' Hall of Fame in 2013.
Akide, who was on the cover of the 1999 Women’s World Cup official program, married Colin Udoh in 2004. They currently reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with two children.
Akide was inducted into Milligan’s Athletic Hall of Fame alongside former men’s soccer player and coach Marty Shirley. The two were the 79th and 80th members to be inducted since the Hall was established in 1993. Akide follows Bianca Spoto (2013 inductee) as the second women’s soccer player to be inducted.