Tara Harrison attended soccer camp at Oxford-Emory to learn and have fun when she participated with her Eastside Eagles teammates years ago.

Little did she know the camp would also start a path for her future. Jim Robbins was the coach at Oxford, at the time, conducting the camp. Since then he has taken the job of soccer coach at LaGrange.

On Tuesday Harrison signed a letter of intent with Robbins and LaGrange.

"We've been tracking her for a while," Robbins said.
Harrison has provided the Eagles with speed, an adept eye for dishing out assists, versatility and leadership. All are traits she can bring to her new school in 2013.

"She has great speed," Eastside coach Joel Singleton said. "That's probably one of her greatest assets. She plays a lot of positions, but mainly for us she plays midfield and striker."

Harrison will play mostly striker at LaGrange, where Robbins likes her scoring ability.

"She brings technique and a level of experience that we're looking to add to the roster," Singleton said. "She has a level of speed we're looking to add and she can finish."

Along with leading the Eagles on the stat sheet, Harrison also has been a leader off and on the pitch.

"She is a four-year varsity player and this is her second year as a captain," Singleton said. "Tara is vocal on the field, which leads to putting people in the right places and getting us out of jams."

Harrison chose LaGrange for three reasons, the soccer team, the education and the fact that it is close to home. She got along with her future teammates well when visiting the campus, and liked the fact that it was just an hour and a half away from home.

"My parents have gone to all my games, and they'll be able to come to more," Harrison said.

Harrison is planning on being a teacher, and liked the college's education program.

"It's pretty exciting," Harrison said.