While Lauryn Whitley has not been one of Columbus North’s more prolific goal scorers during her high school soccer career, it doesn’t mean she hasn’t made a huge contribution.
With 21 assists each of the past two seasons, Whitley has twice tied the North school record. The senior midfielder will look to break the mark when the Class 3A No. 8 Bull Dogs play in Saturday’s Bloomington South Regional.
“I appreciated it just as much as I appreciate goals,” Whitley said. “I’m not really one of our top goal scorers, but I have more fun and joy in creating goals and being part of the build up for it. I like seeing other people happy when they score. I take as much joy in that as they do. Just being part of the creation and just watching it happen is one of my favorite things on the field.”
Whitley has been able to experience that joy plenty of times with the Bull Dogs. Her 50 career assists are only two behind the school career record of 52 set by Erica Stewart. Stewart also shares the single-season record that Whitley has tied the past two years.
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Junior Jenna Lang has been the primary beneficiary of Whitley’s playmaking abilities. Lang has a single-season school-record 43 goals this season.
“I think we work together really well,” Whitley said. “We just work off each other really well. She’ll know that once I get the ball, and I put my head down that she’s going to go for a run. We played together when we were little, so going into sophomore year, I was just really excited to have her back because the ball just finds her when I kick it. I’m just really happy that we’ve been able to play together these past three years.”
David Young, who took over as North coach last season, has appreciated what Whitley has been able to provide.
“She’s a very selfless player,” Young said. “She understands what it takes for us to score. She understands her role on the team. She works really well with Jenna in the midfield, and she’s able to find the right ball at the right time. We just have to give her options up top, and when we’re clicking, she’s playing really well and we just kind of feed off of her. Like Jenna and like the other captains, when she goes, everybody else goes, too.”
The Bull Dogs (16-1-1) are enjoying a stellar season. They haven’t lost since the season opener at 2A then-No. 5 Brebeuf Jesuit.
“I think we all worked really hard because we all just really wanted it this year,” Whitley said. “We didn’t really take any game for granted. We just focused in on every opponent that we had, and I think that was the key for our season — just not overlooking anyone and just keeping up the good intensity throughout all of our matches.”
That was the case on Saturday when North beat 3A No. 18 Center Grove 2-0 in the Whiteland Sectional final. Lang scored both goals, with Whitley assisting on the first.
“I think we all understand that it’s not any time to joke around anymore, and that we have to be really serious about going forward,” said Whitley, who does not plan to play soccer in college and is considering attending Ball State or Indiana University. “(Saturday) was kind of like a wakeup call that we really do have to show up for every single team and work together like we have been working all season.”
North will look to do that on Saturday, first against 3A No. 7 Evansville Memorial in the semifinals at 10 a.m. A win would put the Bull Dogs in the 7 p.m. final against 3A No. 9 Bloomington South or Floyd Central.
“Every game this year, I feel like we’ve improved, and we’ve been working toward this the entire season, really just looking to go as far as we can, and I think we all want it equally,” Whitley said. “It’s not just one person that’s really into it. Everyone really wants it, so I think that will help us move forward.”
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Bloomington South girls soccer regional
Saturday
10 a.m.: Columbus North (16-1-1) vs. Evansville Memorial (14-3-1)
Noon: Bloomington South (15-1-1) vs. Floyd Central (8-8)
7 p.m.: Championship
Admission: $7 per session (limited to 150 fans per game)
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