Another prestigious soccer talent with roots in Bermuda is setting records and creating newspapers headlines overseas. This time it is a 17-year-old girl who has lived and breathed soccer since she was a four.

Jasmin Johansen has just finished her final school year as the all-time record holder for the number of goals scored and points accumulated by any player in the school’s 112-year history.

The Island’s soccer heroes already include such instantly recognisable names as Clyde Best, Shaun Goater and current New England Revolution squad member Khano Smith. Now a new name has emerged and Jasmin is showing what can be achieved at a young age.

She may be relatively petite compared to many of her opponents, but she doesn’t give anyone an inch on the field in the heat of a game, outwitting and outplaying opponents even though she is often heavily marked by opposition teams aware of her goal scoring talents. Newspapers in Massachusetts are in no doubt the teenager, who has Bermudian parents, is a talent of note. Headlines such as “Jasmin Johansen Something Special” and “Johansen Breaks Woodward Scoring Record” have appeared in the past few months.

And it’s easy to see why. A student at the Woodward School for Girls in the city of Quincy, during her career in the school varsity team she has scored 104 goals with 64 goal-assists to reach a career points tally of 168.

Team coach Bob Giordano only has one problem with Jasmin — how does he replace his star team captain now she is about to move on having won early acceptance to study at Spelman College in Atlanta?

“She scored 28 goals in a single year. To replace her I’ve told the others we will need seven different players to get four more goals each,” said Woodward’s athletic director Mr. Giordano.

“Her instincts are fabulous. She anticipates where the ball is going to be, and she is fast — probably the fastest player I’ve seen.”

Her 104 career goals smashed the school’s previous all-time record of 89 and Mr. Giordano cannot imagine any player will ever emerge to rival it.

Jasmin comes from a sporting background. Her parents are William Jerry and Jerilyn Johansen, who previously lived at Town Hill, Flatts. Mr. Johansen captained the North Village Football Club junior team and Flatts Victoria cricket club’s county cup team.

The couple moved to the States where Jasmin was born, but are regular visitors to the Island to see Mr. Johansen’s brother, another former North Village player Bill Smith and good friend Earl ‘Shaky’ Simmons in St. George.

Since Jasmin was four she has played soccer and her dad has acted as an assistant coach almost everywhere she has gone. They are also training buddies.

He explained: “Jasmin practises all year round. When we have free time we practise in the nets or she will ask if we can go out training at the nearest park. She is very enthusiastic and cool-headed. She is a natural player and a team player. If she scores she likes to try to help the others to get a goal as well.”

In one memorable game Jasmin scored six goals. Her soccer heroes include Bermudian Kheno Smith, currently with the New England Revolution whom she has been to watch play but has yet to meet the Island’s famous soccer playing son.

“I play because I love the sport, my first priority was never to set any record. It is just love and passion for the sport and then the record came with it. It has been nice to receive the acknowledgement from the school and the community,” said Jasmin.

“I was influenced from an early age by my father who played soccer. I’ve always been involved in sport and soccer is the one that has suited me because I’m working with people and I’m staying constantly fit.”

Up to the age of 13, Jasmin played in combined boys and girls’ soccer leagues. She was the only girl player but that didn’t prove to be a problem as she grew stronger through mixing it with the boys on the field.

Her father said: “I’m proud of her. When she started at the school we did not know they had a soccer team. She started and had taken her playing to another level.”

And coach Mr. Giordano added: “She’s a wonderful, wonderful kid and probably the best team captain I’ve had.”

Jasmin intends to keep her soccer going when she starts college in Atlanta, although she does not intend to turn professional. Her dream is to graduate and become an entrepreneur in the field of health and fitness. And who would bet against her? As her father points out: “ She has the ability to do anything. She is so focused on anything she puts her mind to.”

Jasmin, the soccer supergirl