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Scoring a winning goal with 28 seconds left to break the Callaway girls’ soccer wins record earned Alora Vetsavong the honor of being The LaGrange Daily News’ Athlete of the Week.

“I was very shocked, it took a minute for it to really hit me,” Vetsavong said. “Then, I was ecstatic as my team was hyping me up. They came over and jumped on me because we broke the wins record with that goal.”

Vetsavong, affectionately known as “Lolo,” took a break from soccer last year but returned with a new passion for the game this season. Vetsavong is primarily a softball player and has only played soccer her sophomore and senior years.

“This is my ‘fun’ sport, softball is my main,” she said. “This sport I just came out to get the feel for playing another sport.”

One of the reasons she rejoined the soccer team was the changing of the guard in the coaching ranks. New head coach Mike Petite has helped her grow and helped influence her decision to return to the soccer pitch for the Cavaliers.

“Petite has really helped me grow and has taught me some new things to make me more knowledgeable about the sport,” Vetsavong said.

Vetsavong is a Callaway Cavalier through and through.

“Being a Cavalier means having strong character, you have to want to grow and be there for your team and your family,” she said.

Vetsavong is in the home stretch of her senior year at Callaway High School and is still unsure of what her future holds. She is currently mulling over whether she will play softball at the college level or just pursue academic endeavors in college.

In the meantime, Vetsavong is enjoying her senior year. Her favorite memory so far: a tough debate between senior skip day and senior prank day.

As a senior, Vetsavong has taken more leadership on the soccer pitch and the softball diamond.

“I’ve had to grow a lot this year and taking on more leadership is a part of that,” she said.

Before a big game, Vetsavong has to have her pre-wrap tape and her headphones blaring Rod Wave and occasionally some Morgan Wallen so she can get hyped for action. However, there is one thing she cannot do before a game though.

“I prefer not to eat before a game because I get too nervous, and it makes me feel like I’m going to throw up,” she said.

Vetsavong is a member of National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes at school as well.

Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and going fishing, but what she loves to do more than anything is to play golf.

Friends are a big part of her life, but so is her family. Vetsavong’s mother gave her an ideal to strive for.

“She’s a strong woman that’s always been there for me when we didn’t have much,” she said. “She just makes sure I always have what I need and provides for me every day.”