DERIDDER—Niya Clark, a senior forward on offense for the DeRidder Lady Dragons soccer team, just started playing the game competitively last summer. However, she is already enjoying her role on the team and being part of the DeRidder Lady Dragons success.

The Lady Dragons (10-10-1, 2-2 5-4A) have clinched second-place in District 5-4A along with a playoff spot.

Clark first played in the Beauregard United Soccer Association (BUSA) last summer.

That inspired her to join the Lady Dragons.

“Mostly from playing over the summer, I really enjoyed playing and wanted to continue in high school,” Clark said.

Clark hopes to contribute in any way possible.

“As a forward, my main goal is to score,” Clark said.

“I just like playing with the team and working together with the team and winning with the team. I’ve enjoyed being on the team.”

A highlight for Clark this season was when the Lady Dragons came in second-place in a tournament in Shreveport.

Clark said her goal for the team in 2009-10 is to go as far as possible in the playoffs and she said she would be “trying the best that I can as a forward and hopefully score.”

The Lady Dragons may be a young team, but they are continuing to improve with each game and getting better before the playoffs.

“I think we’re still improving, but yeah, we’ve come far from the beginning of the season,” Clark said.

During the school year and summer, Clark said Lady Dragons assistant coach Steve Martinez has been a big help to her game.

“He showed me the basics,” Clark said. “He really taught me the basics and stuff.”

It may be Clark’s first season on the team, but she has gotten to know her teammates well.

“We’re pretty close, sometimes like sisters,” Clark said.

Clark hopes to continue her soccer career at the intramural level when she attends LSU next year. She plans to major in Biology and specialize in being a physicians assistant.

Clark’s favorite soccer player is Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays as a winger for Spanish club Real Madrid and serves as captain of the Portuguese national team.

Clark runs track, is a member of the student council, a coeditor of the yearbook, member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, member of Interact and a member of LYFE. She is also in BETA and the National Honor Society. Her favorite subject is Biology 2 and she maintains a 3.9 GPA.

She said she is able to balance her time playing soccer with academics and other activities successfully through “good personal life and organization.” She practices soccer every day except Sunday.

Her mom is Channon Sheffield, her dad is Rickey Sheffield and her brother, who is in Georgia, is Jacoby Sheffield.

In Clark’s spare time, she likes to hang out with friends and relax.