Valparaiso's Jackie Thomas Earns NSCAA Awards

Jan. 22, 2009

Valparaiso University senior women's soccer player Jackie Thomas received a pair of honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) at last weekend's awards banquet at the national convention in Saint Louis, Mo.

Thomas, a native of Overland Park, Kan., was named a Third Team NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-American Team as well as being named to the NSCAA/adidas All-Great Lakes Region Second Team.

"Both of these NSCAA honors were very unexpected and I feel honored to even have been considered for them," Thomas said. "These awards are even more about the performance of our team and the consistency of our program than they are about me as an individual. The academic award is extremely gratifying because it shows the strength of our program- producing quality work on and off the field. The support of my teammates and coaches has pushed me to achieve at a level I could not have imagined as a freshman."

Thomas, a defender, was a First Team All-Horizon League selection after sharing the team lead with three goals. She finished her career tied for eighth all-time with 11 goals and ranked ninth with 23 career points. Her seven match-winning goals are tied for second all-time at Valpo.

In the classroom, Thomas carries a 3.88 grade point average as a public relations and sports management double major. She was a ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-District selection as voted upon by CoSIDA this season and also named to the Horizon League's All-Academic Team in women's soccer.

"Valpo soccer has grown each year I have been here and certainly will achieve at new levels after I am gone," concluded Thomas. "I feel blessed for all the opportunities that Valpo has provided for me and only hope that my four years has made a difference in some way. I feel privileged to have been a small part of a program that strives daily to achieve its challenging goals and always demands the best out of everyone involved, both on and off the field."

-- story courtesy of Valparaiso Athletic Media Relations