« Women’s Soccer 2007

Jessica Maxwell

School
University of North Carolina
Position
Defender

Classroom

essica has already completed her undergraduate degree and is now enrolled in graduate school, working toward a master’s in Accounting through UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. She received a B.A. in Economics in May of 2007 and has earned spots on the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll and the Dean’s List. She was named to the All-ACC Academic Soccer Team for 2006-07.

Character

Jessica bounced back from two major injuries during her collegiate career. After starting for the Tar Heels in her freshman and sophomore years, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee while competing for the U.S. Under-21 National Team during the summer of 2005. She sat out the 2005 season while rehabilitating her knee, and returned ready to play for the 2006 season. Maxwell led the Tar Heel defense as the squad rebounded from a season-opening loss. As UNC marched toward the NCAA Championship, Maxwell again was plaiged by an injury – in the NCAA quarterfinals, when she suffered a broken ankle that kept her on the sidelines. Maxwell is back this fall and serving as a second-year team captain. Her perseverance and dedication to the team have earned her the unquestioning respect of her teammates.

Community

Maxwell is a communicty activist who volunteers with the Triangle United Soccer Club organizing clinics and assisting coaches with training sessions. She also organized the team’s Share Your Holiday project, in which the UNC players “adopted” a local family and bought holiday gifts from wish lists provided by its members. She spent a year working with a local second grade class and currently serves on the community service committee of the Masters of Accounting Student Association. She participates in the Carolina Leadership Academy, practicing and refining leadership skills for use on campus, on the field and later in life.

Competition

As a defender, Maxwell isn’t winning games by scoring goals, but she has earned plenty of recognition for her outstanding play throughout her career. She begins her final campaign on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List and has been named a preseason All-America. As the only freshman starter on the 2003 undefeated NCAA Championship team, she began her career with Freshman All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team honors. As a junior, she earned All-America and All-Southeast Region recognition and was honored as National Player of the Week. She helped direct a very young squad to the NCAA quarterfinals before suffering a season-ending injury. UNC went on to claim the title, making Maxwell a part of two national title teams in her three previous seasons on the field.