Aberdeen Central’s Megan Fastneau has been named the Gatorade South Dakota Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year. She is the first member of the Golden Eagles squad to receive the award.

“This award means a lot to me. I’m the first girl from Aberdeen Central on the soccer team to get this award,” Fastenau said. “It means a lot mostly that I can get to donate that $1,000 to my local Hub City community.”

The money is a grant to be given to a local or national youth sports organization.

Fastenau has decided to give the money to the Hub City Soccer Club.

“It’s a club that I’ve been a part of for many, many years,” she said. “I just wanted to give back to the community that has given me so much throughout the years.”

Fastenau had 16 goals and seven assists this past season for the Golden Eagles who went 12-1-1. The forward finished her prep career with 36 goals and 22 assists. However, it is the bonding and fellowship that she will remember most.

“Definitely the bus rides, just the karaoke and all the team meals, that’s definitely what I’ll member most about the Golden Eagles,” she said. “We’re all a team, we’re all a family and it was a really fun season.”

Fastenau found out about the award on Tuesday morning.

“When I woke up (Tuesday) morning, I was very surprised and I was just very honored and blessed to have received this award, because I know that I couldn’t have done it alone,” she said. “My parents for all the support they’ve given me throughout soccer, my coaches; it wasn’t just a one-man job.”

Fastenau will continue her playing career at Nothern State this fall.

She talked about what went into her decision to play for the Wolves.

“I love the Aberdeen community, I love the people in it and I wasn’t quite ready to leave,” Fastenau said. “Northern has always stood out to me in the way that they’re going in this new direction with the new science building and incredible facilities. I see a lot of potential and I’m really excited to play here for another four years.”

Fastenau is now a finalist for Gatorade National Player of the Year which will be announced soon.