Kenneth McPherson is very offensive-minded when it comes to playing soccer: he is as happy earning an assist as scoring a goal, so long as both are contributing to wins.

"I think an assist is just as good as a goal," McPherson said. "Either way the ball ends up in the back of the net."

That attitude and his physicality are two of many reasons next year he will be playing soccer at the University of Huntsville in Alabama, which competes in the NCAA Division II level and plays in the Gulf South Conference.

McPherson has played at Cass High the past four years, three as a starter, and has been playing on soccer traveling teams for years.

Among his coaches are Frank Kunz, Cass head soccer coach; Chad Liddle, Darlington Soccer Academy; and Martyn Lancaster, a Cartersville resident who plays professionally with the Atlanta Silverbacks.

McPherson chose UAH to attend because it lets him combine two things he likes -- engineering and soccer.

"I started looking at engineering schools because that's what I want to go into," the Cass soccer star said. "Huntsville popped up on my list and I did some research and found out they had a soccer team. I went over for a camp and kind of fell in love with it."

It's a dream match for McPherson because it lets him continue in the sport he loves while majoring in industrial and systems engineering with a minor in business. He would be attending UAH on an academic scholarship and will be vying for a spot that puts him the middle of scoring in most games.

"I'll be playing a high striker. I'll be the man up top on goal-scoring situations," he added.

That position, attacking the goal pretty much dead-on in front of the goal, would let UAH take advantage of what coach Liddle calls McPherson's "physicality."

The Cass player has been involved with Darlington's soccer academy since age 12.

"He's a solid player who's a hard worker," Liddle said. "He has the physicality to play at the college level."

Liddle said McPherson has played primarily offense for his travel teams. "He's always one of the players we count on."

The Bartow youth has played on travel teams all over the U.S. with Darlington but also has crossed the channel from time to time to test his game on a continent where soccer is the top sport.

McPherson said he's competed in tournaments twice overseas and the experiences are memorable. "The atmosphere is amazing over there."

The Cass player said being physical is something he's worked at because it is a part of the game.

"I try to play a technical type of game, but you have to be physical."

Lancaster, who has coached McPherson two years on a travel team, said the youth has the skills to play the game. "He's athletic and has good speed and good skills. He works hard and is a team player who is very coachable."

The Cass star has been playing soccer most of his life.

"I started playing when I was 6," he recalled. "I played some other sports when I was young, but I fell in love with soccer. Soccer is my game. It's always fast-paced and I'm always moving."

He sees himself on offense, too. "I've played pretty much every position, but offense is where I think I'm best and where I'm put at the most."

Whenever he's playing, he said, it's about winning.

He has been credited with 10 assists and 6 goals at Cass this year. "I feel my assists show that I'm a team player. I always play the smart ball. I would rather play in space than dribble to a player."

McPherson also credits the play of his Cass teammates with raising his assist total.

"My teammates are always in the right place. I play a lot of through balls and a lot of crosses. I can always trust my players -- especially Jovanny Fernandez -- to be in the right spot."

Cass High's Kunz said McPherson is always working hard to help the team.

"He's always hustling, always trying to make plays for us," Kunz said. "He's one of our hardest workers. The one thing I really like about Kenneth is his intelligence, his in-depth knowledge of the game. He can read the other team. He can make adjustments that we need on the field.

"He is pretty much my coach on the field."

He said that's why McPherson has been a two-year captain for the team.

"Our kids look up to him and respect him and will follow him. He's just a natural leader."