Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences forward Shelby Cornelius signed scholarship papers recently to join the Tennessee Temple University women's soccer team for the 2013 season.

"Being able to pick up another local girl is very big for me," Temple coach Emmanuel Awotula said, "and Shelby is real physical as a striker and able to hold the ball up top."

CSAS coach David Poss said that is her greatest strength.

"She is very strong on the ball. She's not going to be knocked off the ball," Poss said. "And she's a very accurate passer and turns well on the ball, and she has a good shot."

Cornelius led the Lady Patriots in shots and in goals this past fall, with 11 of their 50. She also tried out with Tennessee Wesleyan and Freed-Hardeman but said she liked Temple "because it is close to home and I really like the team and really like the coach."

She has played club soccer with another signee, Sage Vandergriff of East Ridge, and said "it was cool to know somebody who's a pretty good friend was coming here, too."