Lewis signs with Coastal Carolina

Jessica Lewis discovered Coastal Carolina University by passing the school to and from vacations at Myrtle Beach.

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She liked the campus in Conway, and she liked its proximity to the beach.

When it came time to make her push to play college soccer, the Greenbrier senior really chased only one place.

"I was really hooked on Coastal," said Lewis, who signed her letter of intent April 13 to play for the Chanticleers. "I wanted it that bad."

Lewis sent Coastal coaches a DVD of her highlights and got in touch by e-mail. A visit to the campus was a clincher.

Lewis said she also received interest from Shorter College, where former Wolfpack teammate Mary Kate Lollar is a freshman, and from the University of South Carolina Aiken, but there was no swaying her.

"The campus is beautiful," she said. "It's going to be very nice to go up there."

Lewis has played all four seasons on the varsity squad, starting for three.

If she were to have her preference at Coastal, she said, she would play midfield, where Greenbrier coach Alex Heider said his senior excels at communicating with teammates and getting them the ball.

"Statistically, she might not stand out like a forward would," Heider said. "She's more valuable in her distribution and her play on the field."

Lewis also played for the Patriots club soccer program and later with the GA-SC Bulls after the area clubs' merger.

Bulls director Eric Gladman, who watched Lewis rise through the club soccer ranks, said she often played above her age level.

"She knows no fear," Gladman said. "She'll take any challenge."

Lewis' club days are done, but her high-school career is not quite finished.

The Wolfpack won the Region 2-AAAAA title and will play host to their first three state playoff games.

The Wolfpack opened with Colquitt County on Tuesday.

"I can't wait until playoffs to see how we're really going to show against good teams," Lewis said.

Her competition will get tougher after she gets to Coastal Carolina, which plays in the Big South Conference and against teams from throughout the Southeast.

"I'm definitely going to have to work hard to try to get a starting position as a freshman," Lewis said. "It's Division I. That, in itself, is going to be tough."