LISBON — There was a time that Brooke Lawrence just kind of blended in on the Lisbon girls’ soccer team.

She wasn’t the go-to player. She wasn’t the leader. She just quietly took the field, did her job well and got little notice compared to more high-profile players.

That’s not the case anymore.

The Lisbon senior midfielder started for the Greyhounds as a freshman and learned the responsibilities from the players around her. Now she’s one the significant keys to Lisbon’s success.

“She was able to see that as she was moving through,” said Lisbon coach Jake Gentle. “She could see the girls in front of her that were the go-to scorers. She’s really developed into that player for us. Basically, after her freshman year, she’s been right up there and become one of the dominant players in the conference.”

When Lawrence was a freshman, she teamed up with Ashley Beaulieu on the front line. Beaulieu was shattering school scoring records during that time. Defenses keyed on her and teammates knew to feed her the ball.

“The upperclassmen are like your pressure,” said Lawrence. “You see them and you know you can’t mess up. Now you don’t have that. Now, you’re the one. It’s a different change but it’s still good. Instead of trying to impress somebody around you, you’re trying to show people what you have and hope they’ll build off you.”

Lawrence has set a fine example for the Greyhounds during her career. After stepping in earning a starting spot as a freshman, she was moved to midfield as a sophomore. She’s been a key cog in the middle for Lisbon ever since. She was an all-state player last fall and was the MVC’s Southern Division Player of the Year. She’s gone from playing second fiddle to being the lead.

“Ashley and I would see how far we could kick it and see if we could get it in, and now it’s about getting the ball, pass it and try to find where to go,” said Lawrence. “It’s much different and I had to learn.”

Lawrence has learned a great deal during that time. She’s become more of a vocal leader. She’s developed her skill level and sharpened her ability to possess the ball.

“Most importantly, is her IQ had increased in soccer,” said Gentle. “It’s unbelievable how intelligent a soccer player she is.”

Her talent’s have evolved to well since her freshman year that she has become the go-to player and team leader that the rest of the team looks for.

“That’s how they see it sometimes – just give Brooke the ball,” said Lawrence. “I play offensive more, but it’s fine.”

It’s a different kind of role for her. In the midfield, she accustomed to transitioning the ball and sparking the offense. She’s always had Kayla Angelico up front to work with. They’ve always made for a good combination.  She still tries to find other teammates and also knows she has to step up at times as well.

“I look around the team and find players around me, like Kayla,” said Lawrence. “She’s been a player that I like to play with. I just move from there. I don’t pick anybody. I believe all of them can do it.”

This year, in addition to Angelico, she has Brandi-Jo Storman and Jenna Clifford returning up front along with Paige Galligan, Shantal McWhinnie, Alexa Harmon and Chelsea Huston back in the midfield.

The Greyhounds have some experience back but are also a relatively young squad. Lawrence says one of her goals is to help lead this team toward another playoff berth. With the move to Western C, the opportunity could be there for Lisbon to make more noise come tourney time.

“I think we’re going to go far,” she said. “Practicing as hard as we can, we’ve come far since preseason to now. If we keep going hard, I think we’ll be alright.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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