Mya McGee, Lane Lawrence end decade of friendship as rivals

Mya McGee, left, and Lane Lawrence have been close friends as youth soccer teammates, GPS freshmen and now as seniors for rivals Baylor and GPS.
Mya McGee, left, and Lane Lawrence have been close friends as youth soccer teammates, GPS freshmen and now as seniors for rivals Baylor and GPS.

This isn't how Baylor School's Mya McGee and Girls Preparatory School's Lane Lawrence envisioned the final chapter of their high school soccer careers coming to pass.

After a decade of cultivating a special friendship as teammates, it still doesn't feel natural to be on opposite sides with so many shared successes.

But when GPS (10-1-3) hosts Baylor (12-3-2) tonight at 7, Lawrence and McGee must force themselves to look beyond the memories they have forged together.

photo Mya McGee, left, and Lane Lawrence have been close friends as youth soccer teammates, GPS freshmen and now as seniors for rivals Baylor and GPS.
photo Mya McGee, left, and Lane Lawrence have been close friends as youth soccer teammates, GPS freshmen and now as seniors for rivals Baylor and GPS.

While their styles of play are different, their ability to dominate while on the field has served as a common bond throughout their years of playing select travel soccer together.

Their journey began when McGee joined the East Ridge Express, an under-8 select team coached by Lawrence's father, Andrew. Countless championships won together and a unique bond fueled by mutual admiration will come to a close now as rivals pursuing the same goal.

"When I met her Lane was really shy, so we didn't talk that much," McGee said. "Playing soccer brought us together because we had a chemistry like I've never had with another player. It was special from the beginning, and she saw it, too."

Lawrence quickly recognized she had a kindred spirit with McGee as a teammate.

"It started out with just soccer, but our chemistry on the field brought about a special relationship. We have different personalities but competing together not only made us better but developed a deep friendship," Lawrence said.

McGee started her high school career at GPS, and she was a vital member of the Bruisers' state championship as an eighth-grader. She was also instrumental in wooing Lawrence to GPS to reunite their talents.

"I felt like she would be a really good fit at GPS, so I talked to her about coming because I absolutely loved playing with her when we were freshmen," McGee said. "We played one year together and made it to the (state) semifinals, and that was a special season."

But McGee transferred to Baylor entering her sophomore year, a difficult decision due to her history with Lawrence.

"Not being able to continue playing with her was the hardest part about leaving," McGee said. "There was always club soccer to keep us together, but Lane was such a great friend that encouraged me to do what I needed to make me happy."

McGee was ineligible her sophomore year due to her transfer, and watching Lawrence lead GPS to a victory over the Lady Red Raiders left her with doubts about her decision.

"I was full of regrets the first year when I wasn't playing, but it made me hungrier to succeed," McGee said. "When we won the state championship last year, it reminded me that my decision to transfer was the right one."

When the duo faced each other for the initial time last season on Baylor's march to a ninth state title, it created an awkward dynamic.

"It took me a while to process it when I saw her out there in a different colored jersey," said McGee, an all-state defensive midfielder. "It felt very uncomfortable looking at her across the line. I had to block it out of my mind that she wasn't my teammate."

"It was really interesting," Lawrence said. "Before the game it was intense and unnatural, but after the game we just hung out like always."

They combined to help win a Tennessee State Soccer Association championship in June while playing for Chattanooga FC Premier Division 1, setting the stage for their senior prep season. But both girls have been sidelined with injuries that have limited their playing time.

"Mya is one of the dozen players we've had injured this season, but she doesn't complain and just does her job," said Baylor coach Curtis Blair. "She's one of those kids you love to have because you know you'll always get her best without making excuses. When she plays you can tell she's hurting, but she'll never let you know. She always puts team first."

Lawrence, an offensive center midfielder with all-state honors, has missed the past four weeks due to her own physical setbacks. Her return on the brink of postseason certainly will be welcomed by GPS coach Patrick Winecoff.

"Her temperament on the field is always under control," Winecoff said. "I joked with the coaching staff that when she's playing, she's as cool as the other side of the pillow. She doesn't have to process information because she already knows what's happening. She's not the most vocal, but she leads by how she plays."

Whether tonight's match is their final encounter or if they see each other again in the playoffs, they understand that the curtain soon will fall on their time as competitors.

"It's really sad to not be able to play with her anymore. There are so many moments we've shared together," Lawrence said. "But I know that no matter which direction we head in college, I can always come back here and find a friend in her."

Contact Paul Payne at sports@timesfreepress.com.

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