LAGRANGE – When Matthew Hale began playing high-school soccer, he set out to be the best player he could be with the hope that he’d one day get to achieve his goal of being a college athlete.

That goal is going to be realized.

Hale, who is now a senior on the Troup soccer team, has signed a letter of intent to play at Young Harris College, and he made it official during a signing-day ceremony at the school.

“I’ve been working since ninth grade to get there,” Hale said.

Hale said he attended a camp at Young Harris, and soon after he was contacted by the team’s head coach, Mark McKeever.

“The camp was Saturday, and he emailed me on Monday, and then he called and said, we want you on the team,” Hale said.

Hale didn’t have to think about it.

“It was just like, yep,” Hale said.

Hale said soccer is only part of the reason he chose Young Harris.

“It’s the whole school, and they have the major I want,” Hale said.

While he’s looking forward to playing in college, Hale’s primary focus at the moment is getting the most out of his senior season.

Troup, which had its game against Woodward Academy rained out on Thursday, is off to a strong 3-1-1 start, and the team is led by a talented group of seniors who have been together for years.

“We’ve got a core group of guys,” Hale said. “It’s good playing with your best friends that you’ve been with since you were little.”

Troup will play LaGrange on Tuesday at the Troup County Soccer Complex.

Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports