Freshman forward Carly Higgins is off to a great start to her collegiate career with Cape Fear Community College, and it hasn't gone unnoticed. After scoring 9 goals in her first four games she was named NJCAA Division I Player of the Week.

Higgins started the season off prolifically, scoring four goals in the opening game against Stratford University. She scored a hattrick in just over 11 minutes, following up with her fourth in the 31st minute.

She has scored in all four games, scoring multiple goals in all but one. Along with scoring, Higgins has one assist so far, which came in a 5-1 win over Oxford College of Emory University on August 27th.

While well deserved, Higgins wasn't sure she would win after being nominated by head coach Ryan Deppa.

"I felt like I wasn't going to win at first, so I was really excited [when I found out] because I felt like the work I did in the summer paid off."

That work included running everyday and playing in an adult men's soccer league, where Higgins competed against 35-40 year old men twice a week.

"It was really awesome," said Higgins of her experience playing in the men's league. "I met a lot of people out there, and they made me a lot better."

And while her work in the summer helped prepare her for the upcoming season, she owes her strong start to her teammates, who have assisted on eight of her nine goals thus far.

"My team has done everything for me," Higgins said.

A Wilmington native, scoring is nothing new for Higgins. Playing for Ashley High School, she scored 24 goals in 19 games her senior season, helping the Eagles finish 14-4-1.

With such a strong start to this season, Higgins is setting a goal for both the the team and herself -- help the Sea Devils win every game however she can. That, as she explains, isn't dependent on only scoring goals.

"Regardless of whether I score goals or not, I want to win every game."

The Sea Devils are off to an undefeated 4-0 start, picking up where they left off after finishing 17-3 last season and reaching the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time in school history.

The Sea Devils return to the field, Tuesday September 12th, where they will take on Patrick Henry Community College at home. Gametime starts at 6:30 p.m.

Courtesy of Nick Denning