East County Athlete of the Week: Avary Shirley

It took all of regulation, two scoreless halves of overtime, a 4-4 tie after penalty kicks, and a sudden death overtime goal, but the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team secured the FHSAA Class 6A-Region 3 title Feb. 17 by defeating East Lake in a sudden-death shootout. Junior forward Reagan Sturgeon scored the final Mustangs goal while junior goalkeeper Avary Shirley stopped the Eagles' following shot to end the game. Courtesy of her save, the Mustangs moved on to the state semifinals. Shirley is the East County Athlete of the Week.

It came down to sudden-death penalty kicks in the regional final. What prepared you for that moment?

Just a lot of talking to myself. I went into each penalty kick telling myself that I was going to save it, and whether I saved it or not, reassuring myself that I just needed to be calm and relaxed. Sometimes all you've got to do is think about it.

You're familiar with the state semifinals, having played there last season. What did you gain from that experience?

We're in such a tight region. We've played a lot of the teams in our area, so going and playing different teams from outside this small group is definitely different. We knew that we were high-level going into the state semifinals last year, but (St. Thomas Aquinas, which eliminated the Mustangs) was just as good, if not more technical and physical. It was definitely a good matchup and it put the pressure on us.

Why is this group of girls such a joy?

A lot of these girls I know from either a club or school. Knowing that you're playing with people that you hang out with and speak to, it really builds our connection. We do a lot of team bonding events. I see these people every day at school and on the field, and it just connects us because we're in the same situation with school and soccer.

When and why did you start playing soccer?

I started playing soccer when I was 7. It was recreation, and it was here at the Braden River fields — now Southwest Florida Premier.

How have you improved as a goalkeeper since the beginning of this season?

A lot of people think that making the jump from club to high school can actually downplay a player, but I think my gameplay has improved. Going up against girls who are older than you sets you apart. I've been on this team since my freshman year, and I definitely think it builds you so much — knowing that you're playing girls that are older than you — so you can get the feel of what it's going to be like if you would want to play in college.

Finish this sentence. Avary Shirley is ... 

Fearless. When it comes to the game, I just take a step back and realize where I'm at, and that really helps my gameplay.