BUFFALO TWP — Soccer never really interested Kim Mixon all that much.

But when her family moved to Sarver when she was 8, she decided to give the sport a try.

“When I was very young, I was into gymnastics and dance,” Mixon said. “When we moved, my stepsister (Freeport freshman Sidney Shemanski) was into soccer and basketball. I joined a soccer team in one of the little leagues in Freeport and I fell in love with it. When I play soccer it's such a stress reliever.”

Now Mixon, a senior three-sport star for Freeport, will continue to play soccer at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown next year.

For Mixon, UPJ was the only choice after she attended a soccer scouting camp on the campus.

“Honestly, I just fell in love with the school,” Mixon said. “I fell in love with the coach and the team. It's the best school for me as far as a fit for athletics and academics.”

Mixon wants to earn a degree in elementary education. She's already gotten a head start in that endeavor by spending time with her 6-year-old twin siblings, Luke and Emily.

“I've always been comfortable around that age group of kids,” Mixon said. “I click very well with them.”

Mixon also clicks very well on the soccer pitch as one of the best defenders in the WPIAL.

Mixon was a two-time defensive and team MVP for the Yellowjackets and was also named to the all-section and all-WPIAL teams this fall.

She was a finalist for the Butler Eagle Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

With Mixon manning the back, Freeport recorded 11 shutouts this season. In six of those, the opponent didn't record a shot on goal.

“Kimmy's speed is unparalleled; she's smart, she's fearless, she's skilled, and leads by example,” said Freeport girls soccer coach Brittni Grenninger. “Not only was she key to our success defensively, she allowed us to push more players forward to help develop our attack. Having her at center back gave our outside backs the freedom to move up the field and get involved offensively because they were confident in Kimmy's ability to single-handedly shut out any counter attack.

“As far as our program goes, she will be greatly missed, but we are thrilled that she is continuing to play at the next level,” Grenninger added. “I know she will make an immediate impact on the UPJ program and hopefully will continue to have a very successful career.”

Mixon said she relished the job of being the last line of defense, both mentally and physically.

“The psychological process of playing back there is the hardest,” Mixon said. “You're the last one standing between the other team and your goalie and my team had so much trust and faith in me.

“It means a lot (to be recognized by awards and honors),” Mixon added. “It make me feel overjoyed. I helped my team as much as I could and they mean the world to me.”

Mixon, though, was lukewarm about the switch to defense when Grenninger and her assistant coach, Lex Zamora, took over before her sophomore season.

Mixon had always been a midfielder since she first put on the soccer cleats.

“I had never played that position in my life,” Mixon said. “When Ms. Grenninger and Mr. Zamora first saw me play, they saw something in the way I played. (Coach Zamora) told me I'd be a very good defensive player.”

Mixon doubted that at first.

“I asked, 'Are you sure?'” Mixon said. “He said my speed and the way I break down would be an asset in the back and he really sold it to me.”

Little did Mixon know she would not only excel as a defender, but come to adore the position.

“It was the best thing for me,” Mixon said. “And I want to thank my coaches for introducing me to that position.”

Mixon, who also plays basketball and runs track and field for Freeport, got some college interest for track as well.

Some Division III colleges wanted her to do both soccer and track.

But Mixon decided to focus on just one sport at the Division II level.

“It's a little more of a challenge at the Division II level, and at the end of the day it's really hard to play two sports in college,” Mixon said. “Soccer is just it for me.”

Mixon got to cap her high school career on a good note.

Freeport went 16-5-1, won a section title and reached the WPIAL title game.

The Yellowjackets also won a PIAA playoff game.

“I couldn't have asked for a better year,” Mixon said. “I was happy to be a part of it and see the transition we made from our freshman year. I never would have imagined then that we'd end up where we did this season. I'm truly thankful and ecstatic at the growth we made.”