Freshman Martha Thomas, 8, races a Southern Miss defender to the ball. Photo by Ben Coon.
The Charlotte 49ers women’s soccer team just wrapped up the regular season with a 2-0 win over Middle Tennessee giving them a 8-7-2 record overall and a 5-4-1 record in Conference USA action.
The two goals came off the foot of Charlotte freshman, Martha Thomas. Thomas finished the regular season with eleven goals on the year giving her the team lead in that category. She also was the first freshman to have double digit goals for Charlotte since 2002 when Courtney Crandell accomplished that feat.
Thomas is a long way from her hometown of Weston, Florida but has found a comfortable role in the 49er offense.
She played high school soccer at American Heritage School where she was able to rack up 45 goals in 56 games over her three year career. As a senior, her team won the state championship and made it as high as number three in the nation.
Thomas is a prolific goal scorer who has made a huge impact already for the 49ers. Thomas has tremendous talent and great awareness on the field, but she also puts in the work off the field.
“She is an exceptional talent and great, great young lady. She really just loves her training,” said 49ers Head Coach John Cullen. “That’s the one thing I would say separates her from a lot of players.”
“You have to be very committed to play college soccer,” said Thomas. “I love coming out here every day and playing.”
Thomas has had no trouble making the adjustment from high school level soccer to college level and is enjoying her time at Charlotte so far.
“I really like Charlotte,” she said. “I fit in really well with the team and get along with everyone so I have no complaints so far, it’s really good.”
“I think I came in prepared,” said Thomas. “I definitely have improved since being here with the girls and with the coaching staff so it’s all just worked out pretty well so far.”
Charlotte has won or at least got a tie in every game Thomas has scored in so far. She had two goals in the big 4-0 win over Winthrop for the 49ers back on Sept. 17. Facing a 1-0 deficit at Florida International on Sept. 28, she was able to net both goals in the comeback victory. Then on Oct. 30 she was able to net the only two Charlotte goals against Middle Tennessee in that 2-0 shutout.
Thomas also has five assists on the year giving her a point total of twenty-seven making her a strong candidate for Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors.
“The kid is a soccer junkie. She lives for the game,” said Cullen. “The most important thing is that every day she comes out with a smile and trains well, trains intently, and trains with the purpose of getting better.”
Thomas is a shining example of a player who does not rely on just her talent to get by. She can be found taking extra shots after practice working non-stop on her game.
Her play has been excellent all year and the 49ers have played well as a unit earning the number four seed in the Conference USA tournament. Charlotte will host the tournament this year at Transamerica Field from Nov. 5-9.
With the season winding down, Thomas and the 49ers will have to play their best soccer of the year if they want to make it to the NCAA tournament which can be accomplished by winning the conference tournament.
The 49ers play well at home and so does Thomas who has six goals in seven home matches this year. The 49ers are 5-1-1 on the season at home giving them an upper hand in the tournament.
Games will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, but the 49ers will not play until 7 p.m. against Middle Tennessee in a rematch of the regular season finale.