A soccer ball didn't inhabit Lauren Seawright's crib, but the Chesterton junior has grown up around the sport.

Seawright's two older siblings played for the Trojans. Angela, a 2006 Chesterton graduate, was an outside midfielder, and 2009 grad Brian played defense and was a member of the Trojans' 2007 state runner-up boys squad.

But the younger Seawright doesn't remain on the pitch solely to continue a family soccer tradition.

"They introduced me to the sport while I was young, and the soccer just stuck with me," Seawright said. "I mainly play the game because I love it. It's the most exciting sport of its kind. There aren't a lot of set plays, and a lot of what you are doing is about reacting to a situation."

Seawright has started on varsity since she was a freshman. This season, she's tied for second on the Times No. 8 Trojans (8-5-2) in goals (eight) and tied for fourth in total points (nine).

"It's just great having her out there," Chesterton coach Kim Poppo said of Seawright. "She just makes things happen.

"She's got great field vision and great ball skills."

Some of those quality skills were the result of training sessions with her older brother, who now plays soccer for Division II Missouri University of Science and Technology.

"I remember having troubles handling the ball and other stuff," Seawright said. "He would take me over to Dogwood (Park), and we would work on a skill until I would get it right."

Seawright has also been playing competitive soccer since she was 10.

Those factors have helped Seawright become a versatile player. In three years, she's played defensive midfield, center midfield, sweeper and forward.

"It helps having that perspective," she said. "I know how other people have to work on the field. It's been kind of a slow progression, but my teammates have really helped me out."

Seawright appears to have a defensive mind-set, but, when needed, she's been able to turn on the offensive switch.

In a 3-2 comeback win over Lake Central, Seawright recorded the first hat trick of her prep career. Performances like that one pose future problems to opposing defenses.

"She proved to herself in that game that she is one of the best players in the area," Poppo said of Seawright, who's recently been playing center midfield. "Her stats are not extremely huge, but she's not at forward. She does more to set up our offense, but she can score.

"I'm just excited that we still have another season with her. I think she has a great chance to play in college like her brother."

GIRLS SOCCER

Times Top 10

(Last week's rankings in parentheses)

1. Griffith (3)

2. Crown Point (4)

3. Highland (1)

4. Lake Central (2)

5. Munster (5)

6. Valparaiso (6)

7. Kankakee Valley (7)

8. Chesterton (8)

9. Portage (9)

10. Boone Grove (10)

More inside: Girls soccer sectional preview capsules are on PAGE C4.