Leah Wilson spent five years playing soccer for one of the state’s top high school girls’ programs, and for the next phase of her career, the Chattanooga Christian School senior will compete for a national power.

In a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at CCS, the goalkeeper signed scholarship papers with Lee University, which won the NAIA national championship in December.

“Ever since I started playing soccer in high school, I always wanted to play in college,” Wilson said. “I just love soccer. Now I don’t have to worry anymore about making a decision. I’m really excited because they’ve got such a great team, and hopefully I’ll be able to fit right in. I’m looking forward to training hard and becoming a better player.”

Since earning starting keeper duties as an eighth-grader, Wilson recorded 51 shutouts during her all-state career with the Lady Chargers. Coach Cal Sneller said her consistency has been a key to his team’s success the past five seasons.

“Every shot that’s coming, she has the skills to go get it,” Sneller said. “She’s just such a great athlete. It’s going to be weird next year. We’ve had five years of knowing who’s back there.”

Wilson, who plans to major in athletic training, said Lee’s campus and Christian atmosphere were factors in her decision to sign with the Lady Flames, who were NAIA runners-up in 2005 and national semifinalists in 2007.

“The biggest thing about her is she brings skill and athletic ability that are hard to find in a goalkeeper,” Lee coach Matt Yelton said. “She already has the skill to step into a good college program and play right away, and I think she’ll continue to improve on what she has already.”