Amarillo High’s Lily Sobey relishes final year, debating on continuing soccer career

After Amarillo High’s Lily Sobey was named Amarillo Globe-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year as a sophomore and junior, the question had to be asked prior to her final campaign.

“You ever get tired of winning this thing?”

Sobey wasn’t entirely sure how to answer. Who would? Not many out there could anticipate being named Player of the Year for the third year in a row. Yet that’s exactly the position Sobey found herself in.

All she could do was thank those around her.

“It’s a compliment to win it, and I’m really thankful for the community that I have,” Sobey said. “It’s made it much easier to accomplish all that I have these past few years.”

If doing what Sobey has done the last several years is easy, it’s crazy to imagine what she considers difficult. Last season, Sobey led the Lady Sandies to another district title and another Region I-5A quarterfinal appearance. She won her third consecutive 3-5A MVP award after scoring 32 goals to go with nine assists, including 20 goals in district.

Of course, it was also the last year she’d take the pitch in high school and may be the last time she puts on a soccer jersey forever. With that in mind, she had to take everything in as it came.

“It was a super meaningful season for me with it being my last one,” Sobey said. “Of course, it was bittersweet because I was enjoying every game, but there was always that knowledge in the back of my head that this would be the last time I get to wear an Amarillo High jersey. I think that just made me value everything a little bit more.”

There isn’t much Sobey hasn’t done during her time in high school. She’s also a National Merit Scholar which head coach Stacey McPherson attributes to her tireless work ethic.

“I have her as a student and I remember our first tournament back in January she was looking at an AP Government review book,” McPherson said. “I was like, ‘What are you doing?’ and she said, ‘Oh, I just like to stay caught up with what we’re doing in class.’ That just shows her work ethic in general and her determination to get better and improve not only on the field, but in the classroom as well.”

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The classroom may be the one area Sobey focuses on next year.

As of this week, Sobey hadn’t decided on whether she was going to play soccer at the next level or even where she’ll be going to school. She said she believes she’ll end up attending Texas Tech and, in early April at least, she was leaning toward walking on.

McPherson emphasized that she hopes Sobey does indeed walk on with the Red Raiders. She believes Sobey is too good for her not to keep going at the next level. The longtime Lady Sandies coach added that whatever Sobey does next — she’ll do it well.

“She’s got a bright future for herself,” McPherson said. “Whatever life is like for her after soccer, she’s going to pave the way to whatever she wants to do. Whatever she wants to do, she’s going to be successful at.”

Whatever happens next, there’s no question that the three-time AGN Player of the Year has left quite the mark on Amarillo High history.

“I would hope that my legacy was all about hard work and being a good teammate,” Sobey said. “I think AHS is in really good hands with everyone who is coming back.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo High’s Lily Sobey relishes final year, debating on continuing soccer career