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Jillian Thompson

Women's Soccer Braden Golisek - Assistant Director of Sports Information

National Girls & Women in Sports Day: Jillian Thompson

National Girls & Women in Sports Day is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday of February. This day is dedicated to recognizing female athletic achievements and promoting opportunities for girls in sports.

Today, the NMU Athletics Department is celebrating girls and women, both past and present, to honor the achievements of women in sports, acknowledge the impact of sports participation, and advocate for equality and inclusion for girls in athletics.

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- Triumph. That's the word that comes to mind when Jillian Thompson thinks about what National Girls and Women in Sports Day means to her.

"National Girls and Women in Sports Day personally means to me a day of great triumph. My grandma has told me about her longing to be able to play softball at a higher level and for longer. I never take being able to play as a woman in sports for granted, which makes me incredibly grateful for how far women's sports have come."

"It has shaped me to be a driven and passionate person on the field, in the classroom, and in life. No matter the athlete, we all deal with hardships, and being able to connect to your sport and your girls helps me stay disciplined and enjoy everything that I get to walk through."

Thompson, who just finished her fourth season as a goalkeeper for the NMU women's soccer team, is one of the most decorated goalkeepers in program history: her 14 shutouts in 2023 led the nation and set an NMU women's soccer program record. She also established the program record for goals-against average that season.

Thompson cites Hope Solo and Gabby Douglas - a World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist as an American soccer goalie, and a two-time Olympic medal-winning gymnast - as inspirations and idols for her growing up to pursue success. 

"I had posters of them and their teams in my room; they were that much of an inspiration to me."

Thompson says that the lessons she learned from watching them she applies to her everyday life.

"I try to be a role model for younger athletes by leading by example, by showing up every day committed to my goals, and trusting the process. I also really enjoy coaching back home and connecting with athletes at a personal level."

Soccer quickly became something special for Thompson, quoting that the sport has helped her as an outlet for her mental health.

"I first realized sports would play an important role in my life when it became an outlet for me. I deal with anxiety, and it is something I deal with all day, every day, since I was younger, but going to soccer was a release. It made me be "where my feet are" and only in the present in that moment with my teammates and locked in on my craft. I am so grateful for soccer and all that it has brought me."

Thompson says that she appreciates the "balance" about the women with whom she competes alongside, citing that "we all have such fire and intensity in us on the field that pushes us to our max, and then right after, we are goofing off with each other."

"My teammates bring so much to my life, and I appreciate them so much."

Being able to represent her sport at the collegiate level is one of her proudest accomplishments, and something she doesn't take for granted, while also recognizing the women who came before her.

"It means the world to me to be able to represent women in my sport at the collegiate level. Again, I think of my grandma, who longed to play. I hold that with me and stay reminded of all the women who paved the way for women in sports. Leading with confidence and supporting other sports is the best way to represent and celebrate everything that was done before to get us to this point."

It is very apparent that family matters to Jillian, and that point was emphasized by the way she thanks her mother for starting her journey into sports.

"My mom got my sister and me into every sport under the sun when we were younger. She let us try out everything and supported our choice when we wanted to go to the next level. I am so grateful to have her unconditional support and love." 

"She has been to every game of my collegiate soccer career and continues to let me know I could do anything I put my mind to, and she is the biggest inspiration of all to me. That all started with her trusting her girls and getting us into the beautiful world of sports."



 
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Players Mentioned

Jillian Thompson

#1 Jillian Thompson

GK
5' 8"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Jillian Thompson

#1 Jillian Thompson

5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
GK