Every season, Warren Central’s Lindsey Barfield made gradual improvement, honing her game like a craftsman creates a work of art.

She carved away the rough edges of her passing one season, sanded to a smooth surface her ball-handling the next and filled in a few imperfections from her shots.

But this season, she became a complete masterpiece as the Vicksburg Post Player of the Year. The reason why is simple as 33 percent of Warren Central’s offense was hers with a goal (12, second on the team) or an assist (a team-best nine goals).

“Work ethic, desire and attitude is what made her a complete soccer player,” WC coach Trey Banks said. “She wanted it every game and you could tell she wanted it every game. Even when she was not having a good game, she was giving her all and it was a great example to our younger girls.”

In 2011, Barfield had nine goals and eight assists. While she’s a deadly scorer with a strong leg, she didn’t care about individual glory. She prefered to be a playmaker.

“I like to help my other teammates out and help them out by giving them opportunities,” Barfield said.

But her final work might be her most incredible. She came back from a knee injury — which caused her to miss her team’s first game against Clinton — and scored both WC goals in a 2-1 victory that largely knocked archrival Vicksburg out of the playoff chase and set the Lady Vikes up for a second-straight playoff berth.

Even more incredible was that the missed game was Barfield’s first in five seasons on the pitch. WC played Clinton to a hard-fought 1-0 loss that night.

“I was really wanting to get out there and play, because that was something that had never happened to me before,” Barfield said. “But I liked watching our team really play well together without me. But it was hard for sure.”

While Barfield had opportunities to play at the college level, she is satisfied with her career and ready to move on to new challenges as she graduates a year early from Warren Central.

“It was a crazy feeling. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” Barfield said. “I figured I ended it on a good note.”