Tishia Jewell a gem among soccer players

from florida today

Tishia Jewell always thought she would have lots of company her senior year.

As a freshman, she was part of a talented incoming Satellite High girls soccer class that also included Allison Griffin, Annick McBryan and Kristen Steininger. That quartet perhaps suspected they collectively would keep the level of the Scorpions' soccer fortunes near the top of the state.

"It all seemed to dwindle down," Jewell said.

Indeed, by her senior season, Jewell was the only constant among the foursome. Steininger was in and out of the lineup. Griffin, who still earned a scholarship to the University of South Florida, sustained knee injuries that meant she missed her junior and senior seasons. McBryar left early this season for early enrollment at the University of Florida and to train with the Gators' women's soccer program.

Jewell, however, stood tall this winter with various local teams such as Melbourne, Bayside, Viera and Merritt Island closing in on what once was Satellite's domain as the county's best collection of girls soccer talent.

In fact, the 5-foot-7 Jewell led the county in scoring with 43 goals and 15 assists. More importantly, the University of Central Florida-bound Jewell developed a knack for timing, scoring game-winning goals in the Scorpions' final two regional-round victories over West Boca Raton (3-2) and archrival St. Thomas Aquinas (2-1 in double overtime).

For leading Satellite to 21 wins and an unexpected-to-some berth in the Class 5A state tournament, Jewell was selected as FLORIDA TODAY's Girls Soccer Player of the Year by the newspaper's staff.

The season capped a productive scholastic career for Jewell, who appeared in three state tournaments. She scored in two state finals, including the victorious Satellite effort in 2007. In her final three seasons, Jewell used her speed and thunderous shots to accumulate a combined 118 goals and 49 assists.

"I started playing when I was 4," Jewell said. "I always had a little bit of speed. I was always running."

Clearly the girl to mark for any foe, Jewell nonetheless showed the guile and skills to break free on a team that contained just two seniors. The other was Steininger, who combined with Jewell in the pinnacle moment of the season.

In yet another postseason classic between the two state powers, visiting St. Thomas and Satellite battled into sudden-death overtime on a Friday night with a state-tournament berth on the line. St. Thomas, in fact, had banged a potential game-winner off the crossbar in the final minute of regulation.

"The adrenaline in that game," Jewell said. "I was going to be the penalty-kick keeper. Then it just happened."

Perfectly positioned in front of the goal, Jewell, who earlier in the season sustained a face injury during club play, headed in Steininger's free kick. A memorable collaboration for the squad's lone seniors.