Farrell shines as a freshman

Gabrielle Farrell has scored two goals and assisted on two so far this year

Her resume is impressive and lengthy. She won the 2013 Elite Club National League U-15 Northern Conference Championship, was the 2015 Suburban One National League Player of the Year, a two-time Neshaminy High School team MVP, scored four goals in the opening round of a District one playoff game, then finished her high school playing career second in school history with 72 career goals.

And that is the condensed version.

Now, the Langhorne, Pennsylvania native, freshman forward Gabrielle Farrell, is lighting it up on the Liberty University women’s soccer team.

“I was raised knowing soccer,” Farrell said. “My dad played in college. My sister played in college. I started playing when I was three or four … and soccer has always been my passion.”

During Farrell’s earlier years in soccer, she played for herself, not completely grasping what it meant to play for God, but maturity came with age.

“As I grew older, I started to comprehend how God works in my life and all the talents he has blessed me with,” Farrell said. “I got to high school and started playing for God.”

In high school she dominated the game, collecting MVPs, championships and school records, propelling her into the spotlight of Division I college programs, giving Farrell many options on where she would play.

“This school just felt right, (and) the Christian aspect was really big,” Farrell said.

“Other schools had negative vibes and were kind of mean to freshmen but that’s not at all here.”

Farrell said she vividly recalls when she came for her official visit to Liberty, that everyone was so friendly and welcoming, making her feel comfortable despite the fact that she was a freshman.

“I love the (Liberty team),” Farrell said. “They are all so amazing.”

Those girls have helped Farrell transition into collegiate soccer but not without some growing pains.

“The biggest adjustment was the speed of the game,” Farrell said. “There’s no weak players because everyone got recruited to play D-1. I’m not physically a big person, so size wise, the girls are a lot bigger.”

Farrell has risen to the occasion in the first 10 games to start her Flames career, contributing two assists and two goals, one of which was a game-winner to lift Liberty over visiting James Madison University for the first time in program history.

That production earned her consecutive weeks honored as the Big South Freshman of the Week.

Before she hits the field, artists like Christian rapper Trip Lee raise Farrell’s intensity level to where she needs it to play well.

On the field, both serving her teammates and the steady support of her family at games motivates her to go out giving her best effort through disappointments.

“My main focus is my education,” Farrell said. “With soccer, you can get injured within an instant, and it’s over. So soccer is more of an on the side thing … but if the opportunity presents itself after college to play, then I want to jump on that opportunity.”

Before she can consider going pro, Farrell seeks to get a degree in business marketing because she wants to use her creativity to help
market to people.

This only marks the beginning. Farrell has this season to finish and three more after that, giving her lots of time to get better and giving Flames fans plenty of chances to see her talents.

collier is a sports reporter.