By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY 

Daily News

Troup High’s Breanna Gay will get an opportunity to play soccer in college, and she won’t have to go far to do it.

Gay, a senior, has been accepted as a student at LaGrange College, and she’ll be a member of the women’s soccer team.

For Gay, LaGrange College is the ideal fit.

It’s a smaller school which is what she was looking for, she’ll get to keep playing a sport that means so much to her, and she’ll be able to pursue a nursing degree.

Gay is following in the footsteps of her father, Brent Gay, who is a nurse.

“I wanted to go somewhere smaller,” Gay said. “I knew if I wanted to play soccer (in college), it would be there.”

When the Panthers take the field this fall, there will be three players with local ties on the roster.

Two current Panthers, Adreanna Creed and Chloe McGuffin, graduated from Troup and Callaway, respectively.

Both players saw extensive playing time as freshmen, and Gay will look to do the same.

For the moment, Gay is committed to making the most of her senior season.

After going winless a year ago, the Lady Tigers have won two games and tied another this season.

Troup has won more games this season than it did the previous three years combined.

“It’s been refreshing,” Gay said of the opportunity to enjoy some success this year.

In previous seasons, Gay tried to make the best of the situation.

“The last three years, you have to remember you’re doing it to have fun,” said Gay, who was selected as a team captain this season.

Steve Langley, Troup’s first-year head coach, is happy to have Gay on the team.

“Breanna is a player that cements our midfield,” Langley said. “It doesn’t matter who plays besides her, she brings out the best in them, because she expects the best. She’s going to do her best, and she never quits.”

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