#3 Esther Thompson Junior - Goalkeeper 5-7 Waxhaw, N.C. Parkwood/Texas A&M

A top level keeper with experience and success at high levels of college and club soccer, Thompson comes to Vanderbilt this season after two season at Texas A&M. There she led the Aggies to two Top 15 national finishes and a trip to the NCAA quarterfinals last season. Her 17 shutouts in two seasons at Texas A&M shows that she has the ability to make the big saves needed to win games.

As a Sophomore (2001): Played in 20 games, started 19 in Texas A&M's run to the NCAA quarterfinals...Had 9.5 shutouts and a goals against average under one...Made four saves in a 1-0 shutout of Stanford in the NCAA round of 16...Made a season high eight saves in a 1-0 win at Washington...Shutout Texas in the Aggies 1-0 win over the Longhorns in the Big XII Tournament Championship Game...Posted an 11-4-1 record while leading the Aggies to a No. 7 national ranking at season's end.

As a Freshman (2000): Earned freshman All-America honors after an impressivbe debut season...Was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team and earned Central Region All-Newcomer honors from Soccer Buzz...Played in 24 games and started 19 ...Had 7.5 shutouts and a GAA of 1.10...Had a career-high nine saves at No. 3 Nebraska...Earned the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Week Honor after posting seven saves in an overtime thriller agaist Texas and shuting out Texas Christian in late October.

High School/Club: Four-year letterwinner in soccer for Parkwood High School...Was a four-time All-Conference and four-time All-Region selection...Was twice named the district's Most Valuable Player...Lettered twice in track, once in basketball and once in softball...Was a member of the U-17 and U-18 national pool...Played club soccer for the Charlotte Soccer Club for Ronnie Coveleskie Hill...Was the team's captain for five years...Led the team to two state championships and two regional finals...Was selected as an All-American...Saved four of five penalty kicks to win the state semifinal game.

Worth Noting: Esther Elizabeth Thompson...Born January 27, 1982... daughter of Mark and Stephanie Thompson...Has a younger sister... Began playing soccer when she was in the eighth grade in Charlotte...Lists her most memorable moment in athletics as beating Raleigh for the first time to win the U-18 State Cup...Was a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Interact Club, and was a Junior Civilian...Was named the North Carolina Physical Education Student of the Year.