Tom Pickering says he’s not quite sure where his daughter is going to college.

“I wish I knew,” said the Lee Academy girls’ soccer coach. “Every night it’s something different. She gets phone call after phone call. In the next month or so, she’s going to have to decide.”

When you put up scoring stats like Shelby Pickering, there’s a likelihood of multiple choices after high school.

The Lee senior shattered Maine’s goal-scoring record, which earned her the Sun Journal Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year for 2004. For her career she totaled 178 goals and 63 assists. She had 56 goals her final year and 23 assists.

Other players considered were Lewiston’s Laura Martel, Maranacook’s Toby Martin, Brunswick’s Megan Rousseau and North Yarmouth Academy’s Caty Von Brecht.

Pickering is also an outstanding basketball player and softball player. She also competes on the school’s cross country team. That’s what making her college choices so complicated. She could play any sport she wants, but soccer is at the top of her list.

“She doesn’t want to give up soccer,” said her father.

He says a coach once called his daughter a “quiet general.” She doesn’t like all the attention she’s gotten from her record-breaking numbers. She’s a soft-spoken player, but her actions carry tremendous weight with her teammates.

The focus of many defenders, Shelby has thrived despite the coverage. She’s worked dilligently on playing while being heavily marked.

“I think she likes it with that person around her,” said Tom. “She has learned to play with people close to her and knows how to keep them behind her.”

Her assist numbers went up this season thanks to a stronger supporting cast. Her team lost in the Class D state final.

Pickering had her No. 13 retired at Lee last month and was honored a few weeks ago by the Maine Soccer Coaches Association. She was not only named the Class D girls’ player of the year, but was also an All-New England and All-American selection.

Though her pursuit of the record and her lofty numbers dominated her season, Pickering says Shelby wasn’t focused on stats.

“It doesn’t really bother her, the stats,” said Tom. “What bothers her is when it’s 0-0 on the scoreboard. She’s just a competitior. She just hates being behind.”