TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Good teams have talent. Great teams combine that talent with hard work, drive, and togetherness. The best teams are united behind a leader with an infectious spirit that draws out the best of those around them.

In the Alabama soccer program, the latter comes in the form of senior defender Nealy Martin.

“Nealy is an incredible person,” Coach Wes Hart said. “Before you can talk about her as a player you have to talk about her character. Her parents certainly did something right raising her because she is a quality, quality person. I think that carries over onto the field.

"The standards that she has off the field, the way that she carries herself, her integrity, her work ethic, just her overall mannerisms. She is a wonderful, wonderful person and it shows on the field as well. I think that’s why people naturally want to follow her lead. What a tremendous captain she is.”

Martin grew up across the street from a soccer field in nearby Birmingham. She was introduced to the game at the age of three by a friend of her dad who showed up to their house one day with cleats and shin guards in hand in search of one more player to round off a team. Martin declined the cleats but set off to make her mark on the game.

She was the youngest on the field that day which would later become the norm as Martin’s skills consistently allowed her to play up in higher age groups throughout her early career.

One of the most influential people in Martin’s life, whom she credits with developing her love of soccer, is Andrew Bower. Her club coach growing up, he not only showed interest in helping Martin grow on the field, but invested heavily in her growth off of it.

“He’s been like my second dad,” Martin said. “I think what I love most about him – obviously he’s a really good coach and created some high caliber players – but he was also really invested in my personal life. If I showed up to practice, he could tell what kind of mood I was in. If something was wrong with me, he’d be like, ‘Nealy, what’s wrong’ and I would just break down. He was just invested in me as a person and as a player.

"I still train with him when I go home, he’s just great.”

Martin experienced ups and downs throughout her club career. She was finding consistent playing time in the Elite Club National League, one of the top developmental programs for girls, before she broke her heel from overuse. The injury, combined with coaching changes before her return, left Martin struggling to find the time on the pitch that she had become so accustomed to.

“It was pretty discouraging,” Martin said, “but I just stuck with it and I knew if I kept working hard something would come of it.”

When Martin was a freshman in high school and not receiving much playing time, she wrote herself a note that would serve as a powerful source of inspiration to drive her each and every day. Positioned on her mirror so that she could never miss it, Martin laid out her goals:

• Become closer to God

• College Soccer for Auburn (or D1 school)

• Play a lot

• Work my hardest all the time

• Don’t let anyone drag you down

The note that hung on Martin's mirror, serving as inspiration throughout her high school career. Photo courtesy of Nealy Martin.

“I was the person that was going to work as hard as I possibly could,” Martin said. “I’m probably one of the most competitive people I know, so that’s definitely helped me on the field. I’ve never been the most skillful probably, but my work ethic is what’s helped me get where I am.”

The determination payed off and Martin began finding more game time. At the club level, Martin captained Birmingham United and competed in the 2014 national championship. She also anchored Oak Mountain High School’s back line that allowed only six goals throughout the 2015 season in route to the 7A State Championship.

She was rated as the No. 1 prospect in the state of Alabama by MaxPreps.com as a result of the numerous accolades she amassed in her high school career including being named the 2015 Birmingham Girls Soccer Player of the Year and making the 2015 AL.com Super All-State Girls Soccer Team.

Martin says that her initial goal of playing for the Tigers was inspired by her parents, who both attended Auburn. However, when she was recruited by rival Alabama her junior year of high school, she saw an opportunity she couldn't turn down.

Impressed by the passion that Hart and assistant coach Mike Piserchio had for the game as well as the first-class facilities, Martin took another look at the note on her mirror. One of the goals needed to be tweaked.

“I was looking at other small division-one schools but looking at [the note] every day and then being given the opportunity to play here, I knew I had to chase my dreams,” Martin said. “Why would I turn this down when I’ve been thinking about it for four years?”

Since her arrival in Tuscaloosa, Martin has been a consistent contributor to the Crimson Tide’s success defensively. Her calmness on the ball and maturity in possession have been welcomed attributes in a team principled on building attacks from the back.

Martin has been looked at as a leader both on and off the field since her arrival. This season especially, with a sensational freshman class bringing 11 new faces into the locker room, the importance of her guidance has been crucial with nearly half of the roster is filled by first-year players.

“It was really important when they first came in, showing them this is who we are and we don’t tolerate this and just setting those standards,” Martin said. “We’re all held to the same standard on the field. It’s not like ‘Oh I’m a senior, you pick up the balls,’ it’s nothing like that.

"I’m going to be the best servant-leader I can and help them out because I know the transition is hard. I think having everyone bought into the same program has really helped me lead as well as others on the team lead.”

Martin ensured that those standards were laid out from the moment the freshmen arrived.

“I initially could tell that she was a leader,” fellow defender Bella Scaturro said. “She was very well spoken, knew what she wanted out of the season and was very clear with what she wanted and what she hoped we wanted, how we were going to play this year.”

Scaturro, who has had extensive playing time this season, has clearly benefitted from playing alongside the senior. Developing a relationship between the two has been crucial to the communication required of holding a tight back line and Scaturro believes she can learn a lot from the experienced center half.

“She’s probably one of the most passionate, driven people I’ve played next to,” Scaturro said. “Her energy makes me amp up my energy. She’s also really good at organizing in the back and being that voice of the team. I’m trying to pick up what she’s saying and learn because when she’s gone next year someone else is going to have to take on that role that she does so well.”

While the stat sheets and record books will remember her contributions on the field, Martin hopes that the real legacy she leaves will be the way that she is remembered by her teammates. She's also well on her way to accomplishing everything she wrote down on that notecard nearly eight years ago.

Plus Martin's not done yet, either.

“I really think it was God’s doing to get me here,” Martin said. “Faith is a big part of who I am, and I think he brought me here for a reason. I’m a strong believer in that.”