Hannah Wyatt of Soddy-Daisy looks to pass during a scrimmage at Baylor on Thursday evening.Soddy-Daisy soccer coach Moises Drumond knew that from the beginning of her Lady Trojans career, Hannah Wyatt had all the attributes of a top playmaker. He just needed to get her to a position where she could make those plays — even if not her natural position.
In four years of playing forward primarily, Wyatt has been able to put up some gaudy numbers in helping Soddy-Daisy to three consecutive Region 3-AAA titles. She will get a chance to duplicate those numbers starting next season for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she recently pledged to attend.
Wyatt has 44 goals and 49 assists at Soddy-Daisy.
“I think I’ve just became smarter over my high school career,” said Wyatt, who took her official visit to UTC this past weekend. “I believe I’m able to see things that most others don’t. I’ve become more instinctive about the game; I don’t think about stuff on the field. It seems to come more naturally for me now.”
As her style of play has adapted, so have her stats. She went from eight goals as a freshman to 10 as a sophomore. Her goal production ballooned to 21 a season ago when the Lady Trojans advanced to the state final eight.
She is well on pace to break her career high of 21 assists in 2010, as she has 17 this year with one more regular-season game remaining — against Class A/AA six-ranked Signal Mountain — as well as the postseason.
“Last year, we had three girls that made a huge difference, and we all helped each other get goals,” Wyatt said. “This year, I feel like it’s my job to get others goals, but I still like to score.
“Now that I don’t score as much, I’m more excited when I do get one.”
Said Drumond: “Hannah’s always been a playmaker. She probably plays out of position for us, because I think she’ll be a midfielder in college, but we’ve put her at forward and she’s done a good job scoring.
“She sees the field very well and finds spaces to put the ball though. She’s been a big part of this senior class’s success.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/gh3sports.