from tbo.com

LITHIA — Conventional wisdom says Newsome senior soccer player Ana Cate is too small to hold her own in the possession battles that take place in the midfield.

When asked about her liberal height listing of 5-foot-1, she laughs.

"Yeah, I'm pushing it," she said.

But what Cate might lack in size, she makes up for in speed and effort. She has proved doubters wrong, earning a scholarship offer to play at Auburn next year, one of four Wolves players who will likely play Division I soccer.

And on the field, Newsome coach Kelly Townsend calls Cate the "link that holds everybody together."

"She connects everybody," Townsend said. "She's a leader on and off the field. The way she performs in the classroom is phenomenal. I think she got a 30 on her ACTs. She gets it done there and she gets it done there.

"She's little, but people listen to her. She's got this big strong voice where people listen to her."

And as Newsome (16-4-2) hosts the Class 5A-8 girls district tournament this week, her play will, as always, be pivotal to the Wolves' success.

"I'm not going to be your 5-foot-10, 150-pound midfielder," Cate said. "I know I have to play faster and play stronger or I'll get killed out there.

"I think I've got an advantage with my speed," she said. "I don't have these long legs that would slow me down. I might not be able to jump the highest, but I can be quicker."

That's what makes Cate a defender's nightmare. Moments after she gets the ball, she's already in the attacking zone. This season, she has 90 shots on goal, 10 of them good for goals. She keeps Newsome's attack frenetic, and her ability to move the ball up the field might be her best attribute, Townsend said.

"There's a significant difference when she's not in the middle of the field," Townsend said. "You saw it when she was out for the Plant game in early December (a 1-0 loss). We just fell apart in the middle."