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Melea Earley Bison Stories Feature

Women's Soccer Rob KNOX, Howard Athletics Consultant

Fueled by Passion: Melea Earley

Get to know Howard women's soccer team captain

Melea Earley Bison Stories Feature 1WASHINGTON (November 9, 2024) - Melea Earley (La Mirida, Calif.) always knew.
 
Growing up in California, she remembers a photo of herself at around five or six years old, proudly wearing a Howard University sweater. While her father is a Howard graduate, Earley soon realized she was destined to carve her path and blaze her trail of excellence.
 
Her unique choices mark Earley's journey to success. She stands out as a member of the Howard women's soccer team. Her decision to attend a school across the country, unlike her siblings, including an older sister, who played soccer at USC (Southern Cal), speaks to her independence, courage and compassion.
 
"Being here at Howard has allowed me to broaden my horizons, think critically, enjoy positive experiences, advocate for myself and be independent while keeping myself accountable," Earley said. "My dad is proud that he got one of his kids to attend Howard. It allows us to have that connection. I saw the lifelong connections that my dad made at Howard. I trusted where God was going to put me. The transition was difficult initially, but now I love it here."
 
Earley's decision to attend Howard was not just a matter of following in her father's footsteps. While her father's stories and her familiarity with the campus certainly influenced her, her choice was driven by a deeper, more personal motivation, revealing her passion and motivation to make a difference in the lives of others. 

Melea Earley Bison Stories Feature 2As Howard's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president, Earley ensures that her fellow student-athletes' voices are heard by campus administration. She is a member of the Reformed University Fellowship Bible Study and volunteers with Grassroots Health, an organization that relies on collegiate athletes to educate middle school students on nutritional, sexual and mental health.
 
"Being active and volunteering has helped me enjoy my experience in D.C.," Earley said. "I have been volunteering with Grassroots since my freshman year and I love it. Volunteering is cool; getting to know the kids, helping them and seeing their growth over the past few years is amazing. Then they come back and remember me, which makes me feel good. Being so far away from home and having a church keeps me grounded." 

Melea Earley Bison Stories Feature 3As an environmental science major, minoring in sociology and policy work, Earley is not just a student-athlete but also a future global influencer. Her passion for the environment, especially regarding climate change and its impact on nature, is evident in her aspirations to become an environmental lawyer. She is dedicated to ensuring regulatory compliance while advocating for laws that protect the environment, address climate change, promote public health and inspire others with her commitment.
 
"I want to see where that takes me," Earley said. "I am interested in the environment, especially regarding climate change and its impact on nature. Now, I want to take that next step in terms of the environmental changes I can make."
 
Earley has already impacted the women's soccer program.
 
In claiming its first Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season title in program history, the Bison are riding a 10-match unbeaten streak into the tournament championship game (Nov. 10). Showcasing its dominance, Howard outscored its opponents, 22-3, over its final 10 games.
 
Leaving as a champion is a fitting end to Earley's sterling career, which began when she was four years old watching her sister.
 
"I am beyond proud of my team," Earley said. "Being able to win a championship only a few years after being moving into a new conference is a testament that we are a top contending team within this conference and should be respected as such. I am extremely proud of my team for just changing the narrative of the first half of our season and working together and getting the job done each and every game. We deserved to be here because we earned it and we are willing to work and fight to win the tournament as well." 

2024 NEC WSOC ChampionsEarley has scored 30 career goals for the Bison. Her last two goals being the decision makers in the tournament semifinal win over Stonehill. She enjoyed a breakout junior season for Howard in which she scored 12 goals and earned All-NEC First Team honors for a second straight season. Earley was also named to the NEC All-Rookie Team in 2021. Last season, the Bison won 12 matches.
 
While she has only scored four goals this season, Earley's contributions go far beyond the stat sheet. As team captain, Earley confidently leads the Bison, using her role to find her voice and unite the Bison.
 
"Making sure everybody has the same mindset, pushing each other and holding each other accountable has helped us as a team," Earley said. "We now pick each other up and trust the next person to cover the next area. Being a captain at such a young age was hard for me. At first, I did not feel like I could do much as an underclassman, but I have grown. Being a leader, on and off the field, the girls feel comfortable with me. I want to facilitate team camaraderie and get everybody on the same page to buy in because this is our last year. I hold my word and work for them. I believe the girls appreciate that."
 
Whenever her older sister, Moriah, played soccer, little Melea was always there, mentally taking notes and dreaming. Those moments fueled Earley's passion for the sport. Her dad was her first coach, first cheerleader and biggest fan.
 
"I just remember going to her games and knowing this is what I want to do," Earley said. "I can call my dad and he is always making sure I am getting better. He is always rooting for me and pushing me. He has had a big and positive impact on my soccer journey and I got to do that at his alma mater, which is pretty cool." 

Melea Earley Bison Stories Feature 4Earley's understanding of every game aspect makes her an efficient and entertaining player. There is rarely any wasted movement with Earley, as everything she does has a purpose. When she began playing, she started out as a defender, so she knew how to lockdown opponents while studying their footwork. Earley has great vision and knows the perfect angles to thread passes to her teammates.
 
Even though Early stands 5 feet, 3 inches, she is far from intimidated when she competes against bigger and stronger players. Her speed allows her to get into and out of tight spaces.
 
"My soccer gift is not scoring," Earley said. "It is seeing the field and making plays for my teammates. I mean, scoring is a little fun. There were times my coach would throw me at defense, but my principles as a forward came from being on defense. Reading the game has helped me see things from various positions. I know when I move out to the wing and midfield, I adjust and pay attention to how people are playing."
 
In addition to getting support from her dad, Earley's mother, Sonya, always provides the perfect touch to lift her daughter's spirit.
 
"My mom has been a big support in terms of me leaning into everything uncomfortable for me and all the times I may not have a foundation," Earley said. "My mom has done a lot to make sure I am where I need to be. She feels closer even with me being far away and holds my hands through the hardship. She does not love the sport; she loves me and she pushes me in a positive way. She puts me back to where I need to be and I appreciate that." 

Melea Earley Bison Stories Feature 5Earley has made history with Howard on the pitch, but she is equally thrilled to be part of a timeless, transcendent moment. Howard alumna and current Vice President Kamala Harris, who recently ran for president, chose Howard's campus as her election night headquarters—another moment that fills Earley with pride. Howard's classes were moved online and schedules adjusted for safety purposes.
 
"This truly highlights the rich culture and family spirit that runs through Howard University," Earley said. "To have such a distinguished alumna so connected to her alma mater that she chose to host her election day campaign—and potentially one of the most monumental events in U.S. history—right here on our campus speaks volumes about Howard's significance as an HBCU and as an institution. I love seeing my school receive the recognition it deserves. It makes me so grateful I chose Howard, knowing I will always have this connection to the people and the community here."
 
Earley's journey has been one of self-discovery and making a lasting impact. Last season, she played a key role in helping Howard secure its first-ever NEC Tournament victory. She was also part of an unforgettable seven-match winning streak during her junior year. As her career ends, Earley can take pride in knowing she has enriched Howard's legacy through her selflessness, passion and personal growth. In addition to touching lives, Earley has made her family proud.
 
"Howard challenged me positively in more ways than I can imagine," Earley said. "I learned to know when I need to ask for help. I have enjoyed being taken out of my comfort zone. Howard has given me a mindset of the person I want to be. And although Imposter Syndrome is real, Howard has made me not feel like that."
 
"I am proud of everything, especially knowing we moved into a conference and made a mark. There were no expectations of me coming in here as a freshman. To have an impact on my team and the community is cool and I can do it with no pressure. I am lucky because I got to do what I love and do it to the best of my ability. God has allowed me to do this and it has been a cool experience."

Rob Knox is an award-winning professional and a member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition to having work published in SLAM magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, and Diverse Issues In Higher Education, Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by CSC with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Named a HBCU Legend by SI.com, Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Communicators, formerly CoSIDA.
 

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

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Players Mentioned

Melea Earley

#4 Melea Earley

F
5' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Melea Earley

#4 Melea Earley

5' 3"
Senior
F