Michelle Melancon, this week’s Athlete of the Week presented by Okaloosa Gas, has been around the Niceville soccer program for almost as long as she can remember. Her older siblings played at Niceville and in club under coach Kelly Fernandez. She was out on the field watching them by the time she was a few weeks old.

• Now a senior, Melancon has stepped into her own — and then some. She’s been the Lady Eagles’ most dynamic postseason performer, netting a hat trick in a 6-0 win over Navarre, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over defending state champion Bartram Trail, and adding another goal Monday in a 4-0 semifinal win over Lakewood Ranch that punched Niceville’s ticket to the Class 6A state championship game Wednesday at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand.

“When she gets in her head that she can make a difference, she makes a difference,” Fernandez said.

What makes Melancon so valuable isn’t just the goals. It’s the versatility. Fernandez said she can slide Melancon into virtually any position on the field without hesitation — and Melancon won’t argue about it.

“She’s never one of those players that looks at you and goes, I can’t do that,” Fernandez said. “She looks at you with this little smirk of a smile she has and says ‘okay’ and nods her head. And you can sometimes read her and say, she really didn’t want to do that. But no matter what, she does it.”

When asked what makes Melancon special enough to play at the next level — she signed with Mississippi College earlier this year — Fernandez didn’t hold back.

• “I hope they recruited a goalie,” Fernandez said, “because I don’t know what they recruited her for, but she’s got every other position covered.”

Melancon said she’s been playing soccer since she was five or six years old, inspired by watching her older siblings play. That family connection to the Niceville program makes this postseason run personal.

“I never would’ve thought as a little kid that I would be there in the same place that they were, in their shoes,” Melancon said. “It is truly a blessing.”

On the field, Melancon said she’s still working on being less conservative early in games — a trait Fernandez challenged her on during the Bartram Trail game. Fernandez pulled her off the field and told her to stop holding back.

• “The game’s only 80 minutes long and I got plenty of subs that can help you out,” Fernandez told her. “Go run until you can’t run.”

Within 30 seconds of getting back in, Melancon scored the first goal.

It’s that kind of competitiveness that defines her, according to Fernandez. She described Melancon as goal-driven, extremely smart, and someone who doesn’t take failure well — she fixes it.

“She’s a leader in many fashions as a person,” Fernandez said. “What she likes to do, they all kind of go, that’s cool, I’ll do that too.”

Off the field, Melancon volunteers with VIP Pal Soccer, a program that helps children with disabilities learn to play the game. She was named VIP Pal Buddy of the Year last year, and her brother is one of the program’s coaches.

• “It’s so fun and I love being able to help those kids,” Melancon said.

In the classroom, science has always been her strength. She took AP Biology last year and loved it, and plans to major in kinesiology at Mississippi College — a way to stay connected to athletics beyond her playing career.

Fernandez said she sees Melancon as a playmaker at the next level — not necessarily someone seeking to fill up the stat sheet, but the one whose presence on the field makes the stats happen. She’s proud Melancon chose to chase both her education and her love for the game.

• “I think it’s a great college for her,” Fernandez said. “Strong academic program, strong athletic program, and just the right size so that she won’t get lost.”

For now, Melancon and the Lady Eagles have one game left and a chance to bring home a state championship.

“That is one of the biggest accomplishments that I’ll probably ever have in my life,” Melancon said. “To get better, prepare myself for college soccer. And of course, win a state title on the way.”

Get The Coast’s Athlete of the Week is brought to you by Okaloosa Gas District.