Lexington’s Brooke Power The State’s Girl’s Soccer Player of the Year

Lexington girls soccer coach Chris Fryland said Brooke Power isn’t one who enjoys the spotlight.

But Power has had to get used it after the last few months. The rising junior played a role in helping Lexington win its first state championship and picked up several accolades on the way.

Power was named all-state for the second straight year, Class 4A Player of the Year and named The State’s Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Last week, Power committed to play at Clemson.

“She is so humble and hates the spotlight. On the field, she has been vocal. She works her tail off,” Fryland said. “Her level of play went up from her freshman year to this year. Something seemed to click and she was a lot more confident player. She is so competitive in practice. She hates to lose and has an engine that never stops. She was so much a factor in everything we did.”

Fryland remembers Power as a skinny seventh grader, but said she’s put the time in the weight room and is one of the hardest workers in practice every day. He compares Power to a point guard in basketball, setting her teammates up and willing to break down the defense one-on-one.

Power finished the season with 14 goals and 16 assists, with no bigger assist than in overtime of the championship game against J.L. Mann. She found teammate and close friend Megan Classer, who drilled the controversial goal.

Referees huddled for a minute or so after the goal but ruled Classer’s goal to be good.

“At first I didn’t think it was in. Now that we have pictures and video to prove it was in. It was an exciting finish and something I will always remember,” Power said. “Our team just worked hard, came through and came together. Toward the end of the season, I really knew we could get to state championship and win it.”

Power credits the team’s work ethic and competing in practice each day as one of the reasons for the team’s success this year. The Wildcats also won the Viking Cup and finished the season as the No. 3 team in the final USA Today/NSCAA Soccer poll.

Since the championship, the Wildcats have mad a trip to the statehouse and also threw out the first pitch at a Columbia Fireflies baseball game.

“It is really exciting. After we won, all I wanted to do is hang out with my team and celebrate,” Power said. “It was an exciting way to end the season and brought us all closer together. I am going to miss the seniors but luckily the majority of us are coming back next year.”

This story was originally published June 25, 2016 at 2:01 PM.