By the time they are old enough to walk, they are kicking a ball. Before long, a soccer ball is bouncing off of their knees and then their head, until one day they are playing in a game and put the ball in the back of the net for a goal.
The life of a soccer standout starts young; as early as the age of three for some. Then, they play organized soccer with coaches, who teach them proper form. Later, it becomes a year-round sport with traveling clubs and camps. But every time they score a goal, it all seems worth it.
“I do not remember my first goal from my entire soccer career, but I remember some of my favorites,” said Camden County’s Abby Slattery. Like her first high school goal, for example, which came on a breakaway during a scrimmage against Glynn Academy. She beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one showdown. “Everyone was cheering my name and was so excited,” she said.
Soccer can sometimes move pretty fast, and it is tough to keep your mind one step ahead of your opponent. Brunswick’s Enrique Power tries to live in the moment so that everything comes naturally; a sentiment shared by Slattery who says she sometimes “overthinks” games.
For all who play, there is a sense of camaraderie on the pitch. “We grow together, we win together, we lose together, we fight for each other together, we do fitness together and we laugh together,” said Glynn Academy’s Larkin Stroud. She is among four Southeast Georgia standouts featured in “Perfect on the Pitch.”
Abby Slattery
Senior, Camden County High School
Center Midfielder
Coach Pam Agler
Fast Fact
Slattery started playing soccer when she was 6-years-old and played through Camden County recreational sports.
Classroom Clout
Slattery has a 4.95 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society, National Hispanic Honor Society, Senior Beta, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Connections Club and HERO Club. She has won the Wellesley Women’s Book Award, Georgia Certificate of Merit, Superintendent’s Award, Rotary Club Award, Camden County 2015 Youth Civility Award and she is an Advanced Placement Scholar .
Most Memorable Match
“My most memorable high school game was last year when we beat Glynn Academy for the first time. Every year, since I was a freshman, they destroyed us, and finally we had our comeback. It was a hard fought game, as it always is against Glynn, but that made the victory so much more meaningful.”
On the Pitch
“My favorite part of the game is the team aspect of it. When you are on the field, regardless of your conflicts off the field and all the differences that you and the other girls may have, you are a team. The shared goal brings everyone together in a way that could never be described.”
College plans:
“I plan to attend Georgia Southern University to major in Early Childhood Education and will be a member of the Honor’s Program. I do not plan on playing for the school, but instead would like to play club ball.”
What goes through your mind the first time you get the ball in a match?
“Honestly, a lot of the time, when I am having an off game, it is because I overthink things. I think about not messing up. I think about who I am going to play the ball to. I think about every minute detail. But to me, when I’m having a good game, it is because I stop thinking and just start playing for the fun of it.”
Coach Agler on Abby Slattery
“Abby has been a positive role model on the varsity team ever since her freshman year. Her work ethic is incredible. Her passion for the game is infectious and helps to raise the level of play to others around her. She is a leader on and off the field and I have been extremely fortunate to have her as a member of my team for four years.”
Enrique Power
Junior, Brunswick High School
Center Midfielder/Left Midfielder
Coach Andrew Madden
Fast Fact
Power was born in Baracoa, Cortes, Honduras and moved to Brunswick when he was six years old.
Classroom Clout
Power holds a 3.8 grade point average and is a member of the journalism club, plays travel soccer for Coastal Outreach Soccer, and is a member of the Pirates’ cross country team. Power was invited to Brunswick’s Honor Society program, he has won the Katz-Whittle Golden Rule Award twice, and has been awarded the President’s Education Award, A-B honors Award, and Good Citizen Award.
First Goal
“The first goal that I can remember was when I was six years old. The goalie passed me the ball while I was playing centerback. I dribbled the whole length of the field to our goal, I juked out the goalie and walked to the goal and scored.”
Most Memorable Match
“My favorite match was a region match against Valdosta High School while it was raining. The last five minutes of the game we were tied 1-1. My teammate, Stevie Minto, passed me the ball and I took a shot from 40 yards out and scored the winning goal.”
On the Pitch
“My favorite part of the game is the complexity. You can’t just pick up a soccer ball and become good at it. You have to train your mind and body to advance to the next level.”
College plans:
“My dreams for the future are to attend a college preferably in Georgia and play college soccer. I plan to major in Foreign Language; I hope to become a Spanish teacher.”
Coach Madden on Enrique Power
“Enrique is one of the integral parts of our team. As an attacking midfielder, playing primarily in the center, everything flows through him. He still has areas to work on that will make him a more complete midfielder, but he was easily our most important piece. Also, his recovery runs and defensive play are aggressive and well-timed, exactly what you want in a central midfielder. His qualities as a person far outweigh his soccer abilities, though- he’s the kind of kid you hope your own grown up to be like. As a father, that’s the highest compliment I can give him.”
Larkin Stroud
Senior, Glynn Academy
Center Midfielder
Coach Tom Lennon
Fast Fact
Stroud started playing soccer at three years old for the Golden Isles Soccer Association on Jekyll Island.
Classroom Clout
Stroud maintains a 4.23 grade point average and is ranked in the top 20 in her graduating class at Glynn Academy. Stroud is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Student Council and Pirates of the Spanish Main. She has been on the All A Honor Roll all four years and a Rotary Club Student of the Month.
Most Memorable Match
“My most memorable match in high school was last year when we played Richmond Hill for a second time. We had played them earlier in the season and lost 2-1. Because of our loss, they were number one in the region and we were number two. When we played them the second time we knew we had to win by at least two goals to secure our spot as region champions. At halftime we were down 0-2. We had to get at least four goals to win the region. At the beginning of second half a girl on my team got a goal. We were down 1-2 with a majority of the half remaining. Our team stepped it up and I ended up scoring four more goals to win the game 5-2. It was by far the best high school game of my career. Unforgettable.”
What goes through your mind the first time you get the ball in a match?
“My first thought is probably to try to get the ball up the field to a teammate, but I am also thinking and hoping that everyone is ready to play and has their head in the game. I am a lot less selfish now that I am a captain, it’s my team so I have to constantly be aware of the other 10 players on the field that are on my team.”
College plans:
Stroud will be attending the University of Georgia in the fall and will play club soccer at UGA.
Coach Lemmon on Larkin Stroud
“When Larkin steps on the field you as a coach know that she is going to give 110 percent. She is a huge asset to the Glynn Academy Lady Terrors soccer program and will be greatly missed, she is a goal scorer who also has great vision on the field and can play the ball to teammates in the tightest spots for them to score.”
Frankie Vargas
Senior, Wayne County High School
Left Wing
Coach Darryl Mosley
Fast Fact
Frankie started playing soccer at the age of six. “I first started playing at the recreation center and ended up playing Division One club soccer.”
First Goal
“My first goal was when I was six years old in recreation league. It felt great scoring. It’s a feeling I can’t describe.”
Favorite Part of the Game
“My favorite part of the game is when you do something creative to help your team score.”
On the Pitch
“When I get the ball, first thing that runs in my mind is first look up and beat the first player in front of you.”
College plans:
“I haven’t decided where I want to play, but I will be part of the team at either Coker or LaGrange. I am planning to be an engineer.”
Coach Mosley on Frankie Vargas
“Frankie is an outstanding young man. Frankie has incredible touch on the ball and explosive left foot. Frankie is a very positive person and always has a great attitude, even at practice and in games where the outcome is not in our favor. Frankie’s calm demeanor and constant smile are very reassuring to his younger teammates. Frankie is one of the quiet leaders on our team.”
