TIFTON —
After traveling across the Atlantic Ocean to play soccer in America, Nikita Morris has made quite a splash at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
The Fillies’ soccer player from Norfolk, England broke the ABAC record for most goals scored in a single season with 34 and has become the first ABAC player to be named Player of the Year in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association.
“I was happy when I tied for the record,” Morris said. “I was nervous to break the record because we were down 2-0 but I was very happy to both score and break the record at the same time.”
Morris tied and broke the record with two goals against Middle Georgia in the first round of the state playoffs. Coach Jimmy Ballenger’s Fillies lost in overtime in the semifinal round of the playoffs by a 3-2 score to Georgia Perimeter to wind up with a 12-8 overall record.
Melissa Johnson, also from England, set the previous record of 32 goals scored with the 2011 ABAC soccer team.
Besides her Player of the Year honor, Morris was also named an All-Conference First Team member, and she is in the running for All-America status. Not a bad semester for the freshman physical education major.
Morris began playing soccer at the age of 10 in physical education classes in primary school.
“I wasn’t very good,” Morris admits. “The boys wouldn’t let me play because of that so I just kept going to show them I could, and I loved it.”
Morris played soccer throughout primary and middle school and attended West Anglia College from age 16-19, attaining her diploma in sports before turning her attention to playing for the Fillies.
“I had researched a few colleges and liked the look of ABAC’s campus,” Morris said. “I really love how it’s so open.”
Morris was also impressed with other ABAC attributes.
“I love the weather here,” Morris said. “We don’t have this kind of weather in England. I love my apartment on campus, too. And the people are so friendly.”
In what little time she has between classes and soccer, she enjoys other sports and taking photographs. She doesn’t know where she will go after her time at ABAC is at an end.
“I’m really not sure yet,” Morris said. “It depends on how soccer and school go. I may go back to England or I may stay in the States. I just know I want to be around sports.”
Eventually, she’ll return to England, aiming for a great job in physical education.
“Hopefully I will still be playing soccer, if my body will let me,” Morris said.
She is the daughter of Steve and Haley Smith and Jay and Janice Morris. She has five sisters and one brother back home.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Nikita Morris ABAC
Nikita Morris makes ABAC history
- Local Sports
-
-
Tiftarea-Tattnall split
The quarterfinals series between the Tiftarea Academy Panthers and defending state Class AAA champions Tattnall Square Trojans matched up two of the top teams in the state and after two games, the battle has been a stalemate. The Trojans won the first game 4-1, while the Panthers took game two, 6-3. Game three will be today at 2 p.m.
-
Tiftarea hosts defending state champs
Coach Brad Porter and the Tiftarea Academy Panthers have been taking the road to the GISA state Class AAA championship one obstacle at a time. As Region 3's No. 1 seed they are entitled to host the quarterfinals round, which starts at 4 p.m. today in Chula. However, their obstacle is a big one: the defending state champions, the Tattnall Square Trojans.
-
First inning dooms Devils
For a team used to deciding games late, it was the first inning that hurt the Tift County Blue Devils Wednesday. Two homeruns within a span a three hitters put the Walton Raiders up by three. That would be the final margin in the quarterfinal series between the two schools, the Devils ending their season with a 5-2 loss in Marietta.
-
TCHS spring football game Friday
Are you ready for some football? The Tift County Blue Devils are. Their spring game is being played Friday and it is the start of a fresh season of competition. The game will be played at Brodie Field at 7 p.m. Admission for adults is $5, but is free for students.
-
Late magic forces another game three
Metro Atlanta has become home away from home for the Tift County Blue Devils. They have made four trips north for three series in the state Class AAAAAA baseball playoffs. All three series have gone to game three, the third against the Walton Raiders in Marietta because of a miracle comeback 2-1 win after a first game loss of 8-0. Game three will begin at 4:30 p.m. today.
-
GHSA girls state track results
The girls state track competition was held last weekend at Albany's Hugh Mills Stadium and several area athletes participated in events.
- Tift County spring football game Friday
-
Quarterfinals has Devils on the road again
Convenience store owners on I-75 probably know the Tift County Blue Devils by name now. They will be making their third bus ride in two weeks to metro Atlanta when they play the Walton Raiders of Marietta today in a doubleheader in the state Class AAAAAA baseball quarterfinals.
-
Eli Sumner wins fifth state pole vault championship
The GISA held their track and field championships at Hugh Mills Stadium in Albany recently and the Tiftarea Academy Panthers had several athletes participating in the events. Overall, the Lady Panthers finished seventh in competition with 21 points and the Panthers were 13th with 12 points. Class AAA championships went to Bulloch Academy and Stratford Academy, respectively.
-
Short signs with Berry
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
Tiftarea-Tattnall split
