Latest Lady Bear to ABAC soccer lives sport 24/7
Soccer 24/7. That’s the way Sydney Humphrey likes it.
Now, if only the Houston County High senior find a way, once she starts playing in college, of getting overseas to see her idol of the pitch in action.
Humphrey, the sweeper of Sid Baxley’s Lady Bears, became the third player in her Class of 2013 to become a scholarship player with the ABAC Golden Stallion program in Tifton. Earlier in the year, striker Jasmine Johnson and Hanna Wilkes, like Humphrey a defensive stalwart, signed their letters-of-intent under the supervision of ABAC women’s head coach Jimmy Ballenger.
“We’re going to have to change our mascot from the Stallions to the Bears,” said Ballenger tongue-in-cheek. “(Baxley) has a very talented team. Getting three of his players is exciting for next season.”
Admittedly, Humphrey, the daughter of Doug and Dana Humphrey, was a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to soccer.
“I started playing soccer when I was in sixth grade,” she said. “Just been playing ever since. My older sister (Hillary McLemore) started playing soccer, and I always wanted to be just like her.”
Her sister attended Georgia Southwestern State, graduating two years ago. Humphrey said her experience – the sibling only played one year – gives her the edge in the family.
“Soccer is everything that I do,” she said. “I play soccer 24/7, all year round. It’s a big part of my life.”
Humphrey is a five-year member of the Central Georgia Soccer Association.
“She’s an excellent defender, and probably plays the most minutes out of anybody on the Houston County team,” said Ballenger. “She’s been on the varsity an extended period of time. We look for her to make an immediate impact on our defense. I’m trying to fill three defensive spots, so she’ll be competing for a starting role.
“I always try to build my team from the back forward … have an extremely strong backbone of your team. From the keeper up would be the sweeper or center back, then a strong midfielder and a strong forward. (Humphrey) is the general in the back, a leader, and I expect her to do that as a freshman.”
“I approach (playing sweeper) trying to always win the ball,” she said. “That’s my main thought. Just get the ball out so (the opponent) can’t score.”
Not many people score on Houston County High, only two allowed so far in six matches of the current season. In Humphrey’s junior year, the average was one goal given up per match up to the GHSA AAAA Sweet 16 when Wayne County scored four times to eliminate the Lady Bears.
Most times a team doesn’t score on Houston County because it’s the Lady Bears doing all the shooting on the other end to tally as much as 10 goals.
“We have good teamwork going on,” said Humphrey, saying is a combination of sound defense and offensive possession.
In college, Humphrey plans to major in pharmacy. She said she’s looking forward to being a part of ABAC soccer.
“I think it will come down to what happens at practice before I can see where I stand with the other players,” said Humphrey about the kind of role she will play in Ballenger’s system. “I’m going to give it everything I have. Hopefully that will be enough.
“I love Hanna and Jasmine. I’m looking forward to playing with them some more. I think it’s going to work out good. I want to continue with teams that are good, and they are good.”
She might also enjoy playing with Nikita Morris, a native of England who had a school-record 34 goals in the 2012 fall season. Perhaps they can discuss Humphrey’s favorite player, Gareth Bale, who plays in the English Premier League.
“I watch soccer all the time,” she said. “It will always be a part of my life.
“(Bale) is my role model right now. He is a left wing player, and right now they are calling him the best player in the EPL. He is always working hard. I’ve watched him for the past couple of years, how much he’s grown and improved. I want to keep improving like that.”
Humphrey does watch women’s team players as well and listed Olympic goal medalist Alex Morgan as another hard worker she appreciates.
“I really want to go to a game,” she said, admitting she’s only see them play on television.
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