Taking charge
Jason Hornick/News & Messenger
Potomac forward Briana Hines set a school record last season by scoring 16 goals.
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By Joe Conroy
Published: April 9, 2008
This was not a familiar position for Hines or the rest of Potomac High School’s girls soccer team.
For three years, Hines was one of the few bright spots for the Panthers on the pitch. She was unavailable to play until two days ago after suffering a concussion against Osbourn Park March 12, missing two games.
“It was really hard because my teammates were playing balls that they normally send to me,” the fourth-year varsity player said, “and the replacing forwards weren’t really used to it. I just felt bad because, as a captain, I feel like I should be out there at all times to help my team out when they need it. It was hard.”
She even missed Potomac’s first victory of 2008, a 1-0 win over Stonewall Jackson two weeks ago, making the injury even more painful.
“They don’t win a lot of games,” Hines’ mother Brenda said, “so she was proud of the team for winning. It was hard for her to have to watch and not get to play.”
“I’m excited because with the win without me playing, my team is showing that they’re ready to play this year,” Hines said. “It’s really exciting.”
Last season Hines scored all but two of the Panthers’ 18 goals, setting a school-record for scoring in the process. She even recorded two assists, meaning she was involved every time the team scored.
Hines, a three-time All-Cardinal District player at forward, grabbed plenty of attention from Division I col-lege programs, particularly from the University of Albany. Hines even committed to Albany, but when the idea of being so far from home became more and more real she decided to accept a scholarship
offer from nearby Shepherd University, a D-II program.
“My dad’s never missed a game and I don’t know if I can handle him not being there for my support sys-tem,” Hines said. “I’m really close to my family and I like to be close to home.”
That decision didn’t come easily, though. Hines said she wrestled with it for some time before calling Shep-herd Oct. 31 to accept their offer.
“We went on a visit to Albany and it was a wonderful school,” Brenda said. “But she wanted to make sure that wherever she went she could have a future after soccer and it wasn’t just about playing. The team was great and it was a good visit, but she said she wanted to be closer to home.
“It was really hard because I’ve been playing travel soccer for as long as I can remember,” Hines said, “and it was what I had been working up to, playing Division I.This year, deciding not to play Division I was tough on me and my family.
“But I think I’ll be OK next year, I’ll be happy.”
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