Bowling Green High School junior defender Kelly Tinius, a first-team All-State selection last season, leads a Lady Purples defense that coach Diana Niland touts as the states best. But Tinius, who has six goals and six assists this season, is also an offensive threat for Bowling Green. (Photo by Clinton Lewis)

Upon first glance, Diana Niland had no idea she had an All-Stater in Kelly Tinius when the two arrived at Bowling Green High School in the summer of 1997.Niland had just taken over as the Lady Purples soccer coach when the two met. Tinius, a lanky 5-foot-9, was beginning her freshman year. It was then that Niland gave Tinius the nickname she cant escape: Bean. As in beanpole or string bean. Shes still a lean little kid, but she was just the scrawniest kid youve ever seen when she first tried out, Niland said. It was something I said to her jokingly one day in the preseason when I first got here and it just stuck. I can hardly think of her name half the time. But the rest of Kentuckys girls soccer community sure knows it. Now a junior, Tinius anchors a defense that Niland heralds as the states best. Ranked 11th in the state, the Lady Purples (7-2) have recorded four shutouts this season and have not allowed more than two goals in any game. And while freshman goalkeeper Annie Fortier has been solid in replacing 1998 Kentucky Miss Soccer Regan Wiesemann now a freshman at defending NCAA champion Florida its Tinius that gets the most credit for the Lady Purples stingy defensive ways. After struggling early this season with an ankle injury suffered during a summer basketball camp, Tinius looks well on her way to duplicating last seasons first-team All-State selection. Shes also earned the right to wear the teams prestigious No. 14 jersey worn by Wiesemann during her prep career and turned into a year-by-year reward of respect from teammates and coaches. Shes the ultimate in work ethic, in attitude, in leadership, Niland said. Obviously she has great ability. … Despite being a thin kid, shes amazingly strong. Shes like a brick wall trying to get by her. She just doesnt make mistakes. Added fellow defender Maura McGill, a senior: We rely on her to always be there for us.:Tinius makes her name defensively while she would rather be playing elsewhere. I like playing midfielder better, Tinius said. But coach tells me its best for me to play defense, and Ive got to do whats best for the team. But at the beginning of the season, we always fill out note cards and she asks us to put down our favorite position. I always put center midfielder, but I always end up playing defense. Still, Niland lets Tinius satisfy her offensive craving at times. Tinius takes nearly every free kick for the Lady Purples and also moves up to a midfield spot when the squad needs an added offensive punch. Tinius showed off her offensive skills last season in the Seventh District Tournament championship game at Muhlenberg South High School. There, Tinius who earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors scored twice on free kicks from more than 30 yards out as the Lady Purples beat Greenwood 3-0 on their way to the state semifinals. This season, Tinius has six goals and six assists. There isnt anybody better in the state that Ive seen that can strike or be on the receiving end of set plays, Niland said. She could go be one of the best strikers of the ball on a college team. Shes just great on set plays, and obviously we use her a lot there. Shes really sacrificed to play (defense) for us when, in reality, her position of the future is central midfield. Despite a 4.0 grade-point average that will likely garner her scholarship offers for her work in the classroom and on the soccer field, Tinius said she isnt thinking ahead to college. Instead, she is focused on helping her team repeat as Section One champions and reaching the ultimate goal of a state title. All of us think that we have just as good of a chance as last year, Tinius said. We lost Regan, but our defense has another year of experience back there, so were another year stronger. And Annies coming along really well. By the time we get to playoffs, our defense will have improved that much more.