Hatcher remains big scorer for PA
Mattie Hatcher had already proven herself as one of the top girls high school soccer players in the state during her first two seasons at Pulaski Academy.
But in her junior season, the Lady Bruins striker went above and beyond her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Hatcher scored 59 goals and had 32 assists to help lead the Lady Bruins to the Class 5A state championship game.
For her efforts, Hatcher
is this year’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps girls soccer player of the year.
Hatcher scored 35 goals her freshman season and 45 her sophomore season. She has 139 goals in her career with one season left to play for the Lady Bruins.
Pulaski Academy Coach Chris Owen said Hatcher was determined to improve her game this season.
“She took chances pretty well this year,” Owen said. “She worked really hard off the field and in practices, doing the extra work. That helped her a ton, to give her more confidence.”
Hatcher credited her teammates for her solid junior season.
“We had a wonderful midfield this year,” Hatcher said. “It helps me and Emily [Leding] a lot.
“We played more as a team this year. The team played so well together.”
Hatcher helped put her team back in the state championship game for the second time in three seasons with a hat trick in a 4-3 victory over Harrison in the Class 5A semifinals May 12.
Pulaski Academy lost to Little Rock Christian 2-0 in the 5A title game May 19 at Razorback Field in Fayetteville. So, for Hatcher, there’s some unfinished business for her and the Lady Bruins going into her final season.
“We’ve had some unfortunate luck of not playing our best in state final days,” said Hatcher, who was also part of Pulaski Academy’s 2016 state finalist team that lost to Harrison. “That’s something that drives us.”