Tashana Vincent is not your average girl.

A prolific goalscorer, Vincent, who now attends the Middle Georgia College in the United States, is creating waves on the junior college circuit.

Vincent, who recently completed one of two years at the college, made the All-American team, and was the leading goalscorer for the season with 44 strikes in the National Junior College Athletics Association competition. She was also the best offensive player in the Georgia region.

Going into next season, 22-year-old Vincent will have greater responsibilities as she will be the captain of the college team.

Vincent has found the ideal balance between football and the need to do well in school. She has plans to be a professional sports journalist after completing her studies and has her sights set on working with some of the major sport networks in the United States.

On scholarship

A positive thinker, Vincent, who is currently on scholarship, says her success is a result of determination and the high level of effort she puts in, on and off the field.

"Whether I play badly or not, as long as I achieve my objectives, I am satisfied," Vincent said.

The national player is currently in Jamaica on vacation until the end of August. She has made an emphatic return to the local league. After two rounds, her goal tally was four.

In a recent game against Trelawny Women, she scored the lone goal for Portmore Strikers in the 55th minute.

In 2001, during her first season at Portmore Strikers, she won the Most Valuable Player and the team won the women's title for the first time.

The Reggae Girl has been playing football since age five. A past student of Waterford Primary and Wolmer's Girls, she developed a keen interest in the sport after playing with all-male teams as a youngster.

Called to senior squad at 12

"I grew up with a lot of boys and when they went to play football, I just went with them and I automatically developed a love for the game," Vincent said.

Following her call to the senior squad as a 12-year-old, she received her first cap at 14. Since then she has had 24 caps and scored 20 goals for the team.

"When I went to Wolmer's I got drafted in the track team but then got a call to the Reggae Girlz team at a young age so I didn't have the time to pay much attention to track and field. I just had to give it up," Vincent said.

Keisha.Hill@gleanerjm.com