WILSON, N.C. -- More than 80 high school girls soccer teams came to Wilson this weekend for one of North Carolina's largest annual soccer competitions.

The Brittany Willis Memorial Soccer Showcase hosted more than 50 games in just two days.

The event is named after Brittany Willis, a girls soccer player at nearby Hunt High School who was killed shortly after graduation in 2004. The players all learn Brittany's story before they take the field, and her love of soccer has helped make "The Brittany" a tradition for girls soccer players in the state.

"We look forward to it every year," said A.C. Rice and Miranda Green, two East Carteret High School seniors who have played in the showcase every year of their high school careers. "We're like 'hey guys, ready to go to The Brittany?' We really try and hype it up because it's one of the best things we go through our entire season."​

The participating schools also bring a donation for a scholarship fund bearing Brittany Willis' name.