By:
Saturday, June 15, 2024, TRIB-LIVE
Fox Chapel graduate Jessie Thiessen was honored to be named to the North Coast Athletic Conference 40th anniversary all-decade team in two sports. Thiessen, who played lacrosse and soccer, starred for both teams during a busy four years at Allegheny.
Thiessen, a 2017 graduate, was chosen for the award, which was considered for athletes who competed in the NCAC between the 2013-14 and 2022-23 seasons.
To be named to the team, athletes had to have earned player of the year honors or been chosen for the All-NCAAC first team three times.
“I really feel honored to have recognition in both sports,” Thiessen said. “I thought that maybe soccer would be a possibility. Soccer was my main sport and I played it a lot longer. I was grateful to have the opportunity to play at the level I did.”
Thiessen’s achievements in lacrosse included being named the midfielder of the year as a senior. She finished with a career-high 18 points, caused 38 turnovers and recorded 59 ground balls.
Thiessen was also a two-time All-NCAC first-team selection.
During her senior year, she also played in the Intercollegite Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association senior all-star game.
Thiessen said she was able to find the right balance to succeed in both sports, in addition to keeping up with school.
“I took it one step at a time,” Thiessen said. “In the fall, I was focused on soccer. When spring came around, I was focused on lacrosse. I had a lot of help with awesome coaches and all of my teammates helped make me super comfortable playing with them. I relied on them and that helped me to be better at each one. I give most of my credit to coaches.”
With the women’s soccer team, Thiessen made an immediate impact. Thiessen was chosen as the NCAC Newcomer of the Year.
She ranks sixth in program history in points with 79 and is seventh with 29 goals scored.
During Thiessen’s freshman season, Allegheny made the NCAA Division III tournament. Overall, Thiessen was pleased with what she accomplished.
“We were really proud of making the NCAA tournament,” Thiessen said. “I was happy we could do that for our seniors. It was cool having the type of culture where we could win games.”