OUTSTANDING PLAYER: GIRLS SOCCER

WHY SHE WON:

Siloam Springs High School junior Audrey Maxwell, 17, began her soccer career at 6 years old. She has excelled ever since, securing her place as the 2017 All-Arkansas Preps Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Maxwell, 5-7, has racked up a plethora of awards during her time in the game, such as being named all-tourney and all-state for three years, Newcomer of the Year, two-time 6A Championship MVP, Midfielder of the Year, Forward of the Year, High School MVP, NWA Player of the Year, and three-time 6A champion, to name a few. Maxwell has scored 42 goals and 18 assists and is ranked third in the state. “Audrey has always been a very self-disciplined, hardworking kid. Doing things right is very important to her,” said Amy Maxwell, Audrey’s mother. “She has always done the homework given by a coach, she doesn’t cheat reps or cut corners, and I think that has been a key ingredient to her success.” What sets Audrey apart from others on the team is her selflessness on the field. “She is a very unselfish player,” said Brent Crenshaw, Siloam Springs High School soccer coach. “She will do whatever is needed for the team first. There were also multiple times this season she could have scored, but she chose to pass and give somebody else the goal. She is one of the greatest I have coached in my 16 years of high school and 18 years of club.” Audrey looks up to Olympic gold medalists Sydney Leroux and Mia Hamm for their selflessness on the field. Crenshaw added that Audrey has a very high work rate in practice, which carries over into the games. “It is her goal to always be the hardest worker on the field,” Amy said. “Her work ethic is one of my favorite things about her.” Audrey said winning this award has given her motivation to work even harder this upcoming year to outdo herself. She has ambitions to play at the collegiate level and has already committed to attend Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma, on a soccer scholarship and plans to study nutrition.