Head Coach Ben Parman signs another standout soccer player for the 2012 season, 2 time All-State player Shelby Frazier. Frazier is an attacking midfielder coming to Lyon College from Mountain Home, Arkansas. Shelby has scored 42 goals in her sophomore and junior years combined and has an anticipated senior year approaching. Shelby signed on the dotted line on Wednesday February 8^th in Mountain Home High School's Gymnasium in front of family, teammates, coaches, and friends.

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark - Mountain Home soccer player Shelby Frazier has scored 42 goals the past two seasons, recorded almost as many assists, and been a part of two state championships in three seasons as a Lady Bomber.

But, for a soccer fanatic who began kicking a ball at 4 years old, her best playing days are still ahead of her.

Frazier not only has a highly-anticipated senior season to play, but also has four years of college soccer in which to participate as she signed to play for Lyon College Wednesday at The Hangar.

"They're looking for someone to finish the ball," said Frazier, who has done her share of finishing with 22 goals last season and 20 more as a sophomore. " I'm looking at an offensive position, either outside mid or forward, somewhere where I can move the ball down the field and finish the ball."

Lyon is known for its tough academics, another reason Frazier, looking to get into the criminal psychology field, picked the Batesville school.

"I'm looking at majoring in psychology," she said. "They have really high accolades as far as their academics. They're really tough, and I want to be pushed, that way when I get out of college, I can excel and get my master's degree, then work at a federal agency."

Lyon College soccer coach Ben Parman sees Frazier as a model student athlete.

"Her academic stride is top-quality," said the second-year Lyon coach. "Those are the type of kids you want to bring into the program - kids that are going to be successful on the academic side and on the soccer field. She's that true student athlete that all coaches hope for."

Parman, who coached at Hendrix in Conway before taking the reins at Lyon, had been eyeing Frazier as a possible recruit since her sophomore campaign.

"I got to see Shelby play her sophomore year, down in Little Rock," he said. "She stood out as a talented player, especially for her age. I was able to follow her the past couple years. I know the soccer program here, at the high school level, is very competitive, winning state tournaments."

Parman also witnessed the Lady Bombers' 1-0 victory over Russellville last May in the Class 6A State Championship, the second title in three seasons for Mountain Home.

"She stood out in the state (championship) game," he said, "which is the biggest game of the year. I think her leadership abilities really stand out."

This year's Lady Bomber senior class is gunning for title number three, and have the firepower to do so. The majority of the senior group began playing together as fourth-graders and even earlier.

"I don't think our eyes were on the rings yet," Frazier laughed. "We definitely had the talent, and we knew it from the get-go. When we were put together as a team, we were good to go.

"I think that's where the state championships come from," she continued. "Having a bond with a team like that is where it starts. We are as close as we can possibly be. It's going to be different going to Lyon and playing with a bunch of different girls."

Article written by

Neal Denton

Baxter Bulletin