A Record-Breaking Career Comes to a Close
Goalkeeper Jessica Clarke ’10 etched her name into TCNJ’s record books this past season, becoming the women’s soccer program’s all-time leader in shutouts.
by Melissa Wallace ’10
Goalkeeper Jessica Clarke ’10 etched her name into TCNJ’s record books this past season, becoming the women’s soccer program’s all-time leader in shutouts. Clarke finished her career with 48 shutouts, surpassing the previous record of 41 held by Victoria Nusse ’01.
“I’m very honored to have broken [the record], but I’m not naive enough to think it was because of me,” Clarke said. “Our defense has always been tremendous here at the College. We’ve always had great players playing in the back and defensively as a whole team and as a unit. So I could never say that [this is] a tribute to my skill level.”
Yet the team’s success has come in large part from Clarke’s talent and athletic ability, despite her modesty. A starter for the Lions since she stepped on campus four seasons ago, Clarke was the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Goalkeeper of the Year. She made the All-NJAC 2nd Team in 2006 and 2009, and the All-NJAC 1st Team in 2007. Since her rookie campaign, she has had at least 13 wins and eight shutouts each of her four seasons. Her 10 shutouts this past season helped the Lions reach the Division III National Semifinals, where the team lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to eventual National Champions Messiah College.
“Jess has a good work ethic,” Head Coach Joe Russo ’82 said. “She’s competitive and has a good inner drive to compete.
“Jess has been the one constant and steady factor on our team for the past four years, so she’s been invaluable for us,” Russo continued. “She’s going to be very difficult to replace.”
Posted on February 19, 2010