KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Bearden girls' soccer junior forward Brinley Murphy has been named Tennessee's Gatorade Player of the Year, the organization announced on Thursday.
Murphy is the first-ever Bearden girls' soccer player to win the award. She led the Bulldogs to the Tennessee Class AAA state championship this fall, along with a 23-0-1 record.
"We had such a great year," Murphy said. "I'm just happy that Bearden is getting some recognition too."
The Gatorade Player of the Year award is the latest in a long list of accolades. Murphy's prolific high school career has included three First Team All-State selections, a 2021 United Soccer Coaches All-American nod and two regional Player of the Year honors.
The South Carolina commit filled the stat sheet this past season with 30 goals and 11 assists, including a goal in each of Bearden's state tournament wins. Murphy still has her senior season ahead of her, and said she wants to be even better.
"I'm always pushing myself to do more," Murphy said.
She found out about the Gatorade Player of the Year win while on vacation in Ireland, but said it just made her want to get back out on the field and keep working.
"Ireland is amazing, but I'm having withdrawal from soccer," Murphy said. "I need to be playing soccer right now."
Murphy has scored 69 goals and 31 assists in three years of varsity soccer. Her goals for senior year are breaking Bearden's goal record, and repeating the honors she earned this year. She also helped Bearden girls' basketball to a state championship, and wants to win another one.
