AIKEN --- If this was a one-year experiment, it sure did work out well.

Brett Van Pelt, a South Aiken senior boys soccer player who had played midfielder for as long as he could remember, moved to forward this season. For the first time, he would be the one counted on to score goals.

"None of us were sure what was going to happen," he said.

It ended up working out like this: Van Pelt led the Thoroughbreds in scoring and was responsible for the goal that helped them win a Class AAA state title. Van Pelt, a USC Aiken recruit, is The Augusta Chronicle boys soccer player of the year.

"How did it work out? We ended up winning a state championship with him up there," coach Paul Waters said. "Amazing (was) how it worked out."

Waters and the rest of the South Aiken coaches pulled Van Pelt aside one day during the early part of the season. It was rainy, and the team was practicing indoors. Van Pelt remembers it as easy as he remembers his response.

"Honestly, I didn't really want to ... it was kind of thanks, but no thanks," he said.

The coaches ultimately convinced him, noting that his 6-foot-2 target would be a nice complement to swift freshman Travis Naylor, and junior Brady Francis was capable enough to take over in the midfield.

Van Pelt said he was won over by the rush of scoring a goal, for being the one everyone counted on to change a game's outcome.

"I enjoyed almost being the go-to guy," said Van Pelt, who ended up scoring 22 goals and earning 10 assists.

Van Pelt was reluctant to move from the midfield because he thought his skills were better suited playing with the ball at his feet. Forwards do a lot of chasing after the ball, he said. They receive passes. Rarely do they distribute.

Van Pelt worked with his club coach, Ike Ofoje, to sharpen the skills a forward would need. He improved his speed and his strength in the air.

"He (used to be) a one- dimensional player," said Ofoje, the USC Aiken coach who also coached Van Pelt on the GA-SC Bulls.

"He would float around the midfield area; rarely did you see him sprint 10-15 yards after the ball. He didn't need to. ... That's why it was exciting to see him play the forward role."

During training, Ofoje said he barked the same message: if you want the ball, you better get it.

"I beat it in his head, and I think he got it," said Ofoje , adding Van Pelt has improved enough to possibly play attacking midfield for the Pacers. "I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do for us next year."

Of Van Pelt's 22 scores, none was more important than the last.

South Aiken had just fallen behind 1-0 in the state title game. It was overtime, less than 20 minutes left. Van Pelt was standing at the far post, hollering at a teammate to shoot.

Next thing he knew, the ball had pinballed off defenders and squirted his way.

Van Pelt swung his right leg and beat the goalkeeper to the left side. South Aiken won on an own goal later in the game. By then, it was settled.

The midfielder who didn't want to play forward had secured a state title.