She speaks softly, but carries a big kick.

And now, Mollie Pathman also carries with her the most prestigious award for a high school player as she was named the Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Pathman was honored at her high school, Durham Academy, in a surprise ceremony that featured U.S. Women’s National Team defender Cat Reddick Whitehill. Watch the surprise on video.

A striking forward from Triangle FC in Durham, North Carolina, Pathman is our 20th ranked player on the 2010 Top 100 List.

Her big day Wednesday came as the culmination of an exceptional season in which she scored 29 goals and 10 assists despite missing four games due to U.S. Soccer National Team commitments and injury.

Pathman is a staple on U.S. teams and has plenty of international playing experience to her credit while competing with talented teammates like Morgan Brian, Sarah Killion, Chioma Ubogagu, Lindsey Horan and Julie Johnston. And while she doesn’t seem to be much of an attention seeker, her skill-set is of the can’t-miss variety.

As angelic as Pathman can appear at times, she’s an absolute terror on the field, a dynamic attacker who is smooth and has all the tools. Pathman’s ability to attack from a left back position has definitely been an eye-catcher at the next level. She has both the athletic ability and technique to attack on the flank, running strong down the left wing, but her ability to consistently hit a driven ball with power and accuracy really stands out in the women's game.

This fall, she will take her special ability to Duke where mother works – though her father works at rival North Carolina.

She will surely flourish, now with one extra special accolade to her credit.