Trinity Baynham, a keeper for the Lady Mustangs, signed to play soccer with Northwest Mississippi Community College on Jan. 11.

“I want to play in college because my time is not done,” Baynham said. “I still have so much to do before my body doesn’t let me anymore and it pays for my tuition.”

Baynham started playing soccer in eighth grade because all of her friends played, and the game also offered a good way to get a workout in after volleyball season.

“I never really fell in love with soccer or with the game until I came to high school,” she said, and her favorite aspects are “the way it pushes you, the drive you never knew you had before just bursts out of you, the teammates and family you make. Soccer isn’t just a sport. It’s a way of life.”

Baynham said good hand-eye coordination is what started her out as a goalkeeper.

“Being a keeper is cool if you like getting hit in the face all the time,” she said with a laugh. “No, but seriously I love the feeling I get when I get the game-winning save or when we’re going into PKs and you’re the only one who can save the game. It’s amazing.”

Baynham’s skills impressed girls soccer head coach Dave Burgess.

“Trinity was named our team captain at the beginning of the year, and she has done great in that role thanks to her hard work and positive attitude,” Burgess said.

Teammate Ann Marie Mason said soccer won’t be the same without Baynham.

“I’m gonna miss turning up with my BFF next season,” Mason said.