East County Athlete of the Week: Avary Shirley

Avary Shirley, a sophomore on the Lakewood Ranch High girls soccer team, has evolved into a leader and reliable difference-maker, coach Cole Richardson said. Starting in goal against East Lake in the 6A Region 3 championship, Shirley made several saves to shut out the Eagles in a 1-0 win.

When and why did you start playing soccer?

I started playing soccer when I was 8, and my parents knew I liked it so they kept signing me up for it. I just loved being out there playing with my friends.

What has been your most memorable moment this season?

Obviously winning regionals was a pretty big moment, but our connections are really good this year, and I remember at the beginning of the year we did this team get together initiation thing where we got our bigs and littles. It was a super fun day where we did all of these super fun activities together. That’s kind of what brought us all together was that very first moment, and that’s led us to all of this.

What do you think has gone right for Lakewood Ranch this year?

I think our talk and our play on the ball is so much more advanced than our past years. We’re all so connected, and it makes our soccer play way more connected. We’re always uplifting each other and motivating each other, and I think that’s what’s caused the great play and great spark for our team.

What’s your favorite meal?

I love a good Caesar salad with grilled chicken. I’ve also been really into salmon. I’ve been eating that a lot.

What’s your favorite TV show or movie?

I love the show Criminal Minds. I think that show is really cool. I also love the movie Top Gun: Maverick.

What’s your go-to warm-up music? 

I’m a weird person. I only listen to country music. I play some Luke Combs or Morgan Wallen on the way to a game and it kind of pumps me up. I don’t really have a set playlist, just whatever comes on. 

If you’re not playing soccer, what are you doing?

Probably doing homework. We have a busy schedule all of the time, but I Iove spending time with my family. I love watching movies with my mom, stuff like that. Just spending quality time with friends and family.

What’s been your most humbling moment in soccer?

When I was a kid, I would always get really defeated to myself. If there was ever a better team, I’d get in my head and get really upset. But recently we’ve been doing really well, and I always have to remember to stay humble. I have to remember on the field things can happen so quickly. I have to think to myself, ‘It’s OK, relax, you’ve got it,’ because when I was a little girl playing goalkeeper, I would take everything to heart. I would cry in the goal because I would get so emotionally distraught thinking everything was my fault. 

Who’s your favorite soccer player and why?

I love Alyssa Naeher. Unfortunately she retired, but I think she’s such a great motivator. Being a female goalkeeper playing for the U.S. National Team is such a big dream of mine. Obviously it’s very difficult to reach. I think she represents the female player of soccer. I know many people look up to her, and I’m one of those people. She’s so good and so flexible. She motivates me to be so much better.

Finish this sentence. Avary Shirley is…

Fearless.