Jamie Alexander Augusta Prep

Playing three sports at Augusta Prep and travel soccer year-round, Jamie Alexander spends plenty of time on the road.

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It gives her a chance to catch up on her off-the-field hobby, reading, though she catches flak about it from her teammates.

"I get made fun of a lot, sitting on the bus," she said. "They say, 'You shouldn't be reading!' "

On the soccer field, opposing defenses have had trouble getting a read on the forward. This past season, Alexander scored 29 goals to lead the Lady Cavaliers in scoring for the third consecutive season.

She's a sophomore, which means she led the varsity team in scoring as an eighth-grader. Goal-scoring is an ability she says comes naturally.

"I kind of look at the field and see where the ball needs to be," said Alexander, who also plays volleyball and basketball at Augusta Prep.

One of her 29 goals gave Augusta Prep a brief 1-0 lead over Westminster in this season's matchup. The game was tied 2-2 at halftime, but Westminster pulled ahead for a 5-2 victory.

Alexander said the games between the two rivals are the most memorable because of the competition level.

"Even though we lose, it's always fun to see how we step up to play them," she said. "We scored the first goal, which made it all the more exciting."

First-year coach Tom Norton said having Alexander around was a huge asset, especially in marquee games.

"You can't win games if you don't score goals," said Norton, who noted that Alexander's assets are her size, strength and outstanding finishing ability. "She obviously scores a lot of goals. But she scores in big games against the toughest teams.

"Her goals don't just come in blowout games."

Alexander has played travel soccer since she was 8 and has played for the Augusta Arsenal for several years. It brings out her competitive spirit.

"If I'm not good enough, then I know it, and I know who I have to beat," she said. "It makes me more motivated to become the best."

She noted that because the school squad lost a large group of talented seniors, she and her teammates hope to get help from a contingent of rising freshmen next season.

Though Alexander said she plays basketball more for fun, she made strides this past season on the court. After moving up from junior varsity to varsity, she contributed as the team made a run in the playoffs before falling short of a title.

The sport provides a unique challenge for Alexander.

"Volleyball is a lot more intimidating to me," she said. "It doesn't come as natural as soccer does. Stepping up to varsity was scary. ... They play a lot quicker."

Alexander aspires to play collegiate soccer, though she maintains that where she plays will depend more on the scholastic possibilities.

"I would love to play in college, but it's not my main focus," she said. "I will choose a school for its academics first. ... It would be great if I could get a scholarship for soccer, but if not, I'm not going to be too torn up about it."