Heritage’s Nyema Freeman is the Herald’s Girls’ Soccer 7A-5A Broward Player of the Year
Nyema Freeman didn’t feel too much pressure when she lined up for a potential championship-winning penalty kick in the state championship match last month.
After everything Freeman went through recovering from a torn meniscus the prior offseason, even the opportunity to be back in that spot felt like a blessing.
Fortunately for Freeman and American Heritage’s girls’ soccer team, she converted and sophomore goalkeeper Jillian Miliffe made two spectacular saves to deliver the Patriots a Class 5A state championship following a shootout win over Cape Coral Mariner.
Freeman, a University of Miami signee and a defensive stalwart for four years for Heritage, helped restore Heritage to the status it’s been accustomed to for over two decades. The Patriots won their first state title since 2019 and 12th overall, which ranks third all-time in state history.
As such, Freeman is the Miami Herald’s Broward County Player of the Year for Classes 7A-5A.
“From the beginning I could tell this team was special,” Freeman said. “We have a lot of family on this team, three sets of sisters and an aunt and niece so that brought us a long way. It was different and fun.”
Freeman wasn’t exaggerating about family as she got to play with her sister, Zee, this year and both were integral parts of Heritage’s success.
Freeman totaled nine goals and 14 assists in addition to once again providing leadership on a defense that held opponents to nine goals in 22 games.
And Freeman was able to do that following her extended recovery from the injury she suffered late in 2021. Freeman said she initially suffered what she thought was a bone contusion in December of 2021, but played through it leading to the torn meniscus.
After undergoing surgery in April of 2022, Freeman gradually worked her way back to action.
Months later, Freeman caps her career as Player of the Year before heading to play for the Hurricanes this fall.
“At first it was very frustrating because I had to re-learn a lot of things that came so easily to me before,” Freeman said. “It took a while to gain my confidence back. But I feel very accomplished just standing here now as Player of the Year.”
