Everett Trojans forward Lauren Allison was named the NWAC women’s soccer tournament’s Most Valuable Player after the victory over Peninsula Sunday.

Allison, a freshman forward on the squad, came to EvCC after an ACL injury robbed her of competing for Stanwood High School her senior year.

“I tore my ACL my senior year so I missed my complete senior season,” Allison said. “I play basketball too, so (I was out) both seasons and I was out six to eight months. I tore it playing soccer and I had to deal with that.”

“Going through the injury was really a struggle because I went from playing soccer every day since I was little, to not playing for eight months, and soccer is a big part of my life,” Allison said, “I just wanted to prove to myself more than anyone that I could do it because soccer is really important to me. I worked hard for this (award) and I really wanted to help Everett out this year and we really wanted to win. It’s just a great feeling being able to do the thing I love again.”

Allison, who is leaning toward a psychology major at EvCC, said that winning the NWAC championship and the MVP award is a high honor.

“Through high school I had some smaller awards, but this one by far is, for me, the most important. It’s (the award) I’m most excited about. It’s just a really great opportunity that we had,” Allison said.

She also spoke highly of Everett head coach, and NWAC Coach of the Year award winner, Geoff Kittle.

“Kittle is a great coach,” Allison said, “He not only cares about the team soccer-wise but, on a personal level, he’s always there for us. He’s understanding about injuries and he just wants to make sure that we do the best that we can. He’s just a great coach.”

“He’s really taken this team and has been able to do something great with it,” Allison said, “Luckily we’ve had such great players (this season). We’ve come together so well, but his direction and his thoughts and the way that he’s been able to coach us has been fun. It’s been a really good time.”

Allison said that getting back to the daily grind of college Monday morning was a bit tough after winning the championship and the MVP award less than 24 hours before.

“Just going from that big celebration back to normal life, it was interesting,” Allison said. “I went to my two classes this morning… it was a weird feeling going from all of the excitement last night, and it was my birthday too, it was like this huge thing and to come back … I still have adrenaline pumping from last night.”

Her style of play during the tournament, which Kittle said opened scoring chances for the Trojans, “…is something that I’ve always done. I can play in different ways. For this year, all of our forwards and midfields, we could all work off of each other,” Allison said, “It was really easy for me to rely on them and them rely on me. It’s not something I really work on, it’s just the people I play with.”

Allison was subbed out of the game by the time midfielder Alma Manao shot what turned out to be the game-winning goal for Everett in the 80th minute of Sunday’s final, but she said the elation the team felt on the bench was something the team was waiting for the whole game.

“We all went crazy,” Allison said, “I’ve never screamed so loud in my life. We all jumped up and we could feel it. On the bench, we knew a goal was coming. We all jumped up and were hugging each other. It was crazy.”

Allison also shared her thoughts about her future not only academically, but in the game of soccer.

“I want to transfer to a four year (college) and I’d love to play there. Hopefully a Division II (school), maybe Division I, “Allison said.

“I have thought about (playing professionally) and ever since I was little kid I knew I wanted soccer to be a part of my life whether I was playing or coaching. I’ve given that thought and it definitely is a possibility. I think it really depends on where life takes me as far as school. If it’s part of the picture it would be amazing and I’d love to.”