Jessica Maxwell

Position:
Defender
Height:
5-8
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Colleyville, Texas
High School:
Heritage

General -- Referred by coach Anson Dorrance as one of the great center backs in UNC history...Dorrance says Maxwell has improved her game remarkably since last season, taking it to another level despite having to rehab from a broken ankle she suffered in last year's NCAA Tournament quarterfinals against Texas A&M...a three-time returning starter on defense for the Tar Heels at the center back position...was the tri-captain of the 2006 NCAA championship team...also started at center back for the 2003 NCAA championship squad...missed the 2005 season after tearing her right anterior cruciate ligament in July 2005 while playing for U.S. U21 National Team at the Nordic Cup in Sweden...had surgery in her native Texas in August 2005 to correct the problem...returned to the starting center back spot last fall for UNC...has one year of eligibility remaining as a Tar Heel beginning with 2007 season ...excelled her first two years as a Tar Heel, earning freshman All-America honors in 2003...earned her bachelor's degree from Carolina in economics in May 2007...is currently enrolled in the Kenan-Flagler School of Business in the master's in accounting program.

National Team Experience -- Member of the US Under-21 National Team pool...played on a U21 national squad which won the Nordic Cup title in July 2005...has now been a member of the U21 squad for three years...previously was a member of the U.S. U19 Team Club Soccer -- Winner of the 2001 North Texas State Cup Fair Play Award...led her Dallas Texans club team to the 2003 U18 national championship.... named an NSCAA All-America as an outside back in 2002 and 2003...captain of Dallas Texans club team, winners of seven State Cup Championships and two regional crowns...club team also was two-time Surf Cup champions, WAGS finalists and Disney Showcase finalists.

Junior Season (2006) -- Tri-captain of Carolina's NCAA champions...started in 24 games last year before suffering an injury right before the College Cup began...had a season-high four assists off her quality free kicks from the defensive third...was named a first-team All-America by Soccer Buzz and a second-team All-America by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America...was a second-team All-ACC selection...named to the 2007 ACC Academic Honor Roll...led the Tar Heel defense in the ACC Tournament to wins over NC State, Clemson and Florida State as UNC allowed only on goal...she was named All-ACC Tournament for her efforts...was named the NSCAA National Player of the Week and the ACC Player of the Week October 9, 2006 after pacing the Heels to shutout road wins at Virginia and Duke...also assisted on goals in each of those games...was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week and the Soccer Buzz Elite Team of the Week at the same time. ...All-ACC Academic Women's Soccer Team selection.

Red-shirt Junior Season (2005) -- Redshirted the 2005 season after tearing her right anterior cruciate ligament playing at the Nordic Cup in Sweden while playing for the U.S. U21 National Team...named to the Dean's List in the spring semester...member of 2005-06 ACC Honor Roll.

Sophomore Season (2004) -- Third-team All-Southeast Region selection by Soccer Buzz...started all 23 games of the season for the Tar Heels at the center back position... played the most minutes of any field player with 2,009...recorded assists on goals against Maryland and Virginia Tech.

Freshman Season (2003) -- Named a freshman All-America by both Soccer Buzz and Soccer America...named third-team All-Southeast Region by Soccer Buzz...also named to Soccer Buzz's Freshman All-Southeast Region Team...ACC All-Freshman Team selection...started all season at center back...played in 20 matches overall, missing seven games because of an injury suffered late in the regular season...had one goal, the game-winner in the regular-season victory over NC State.

Prep -- Graduated from Colleyville Heritage High School on May 24, 2003...2002 high school All-America selection...twice named to first-team All-District team...played on a high school team which was a state semifinalist in 2001 and four-time district champions from 2000 to 2003...earned membership on principal's honor roll...participated in FCA...a Texas Scholar and Academic All-State selection.

Personal -- Given name is Jessica Lauren Maxwell...has two brothers, A.J. (24) and Thomas (20), and one sister, Sydney (12)...daughter of Gary and Barbara Maxwell...born March 4, 1985 in San Antonio, Texas.

About Jess...
Academic Major: Economics (received degree May 2007); enrolled in master's in accounting program
Career Plans: Undecided
Hobbies: Hanging out with friends & family, Nintendo Wii
Athletes Most Admired: Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky
Person With Greatest Influence on my Athletic Career: Kennu Medina, club coach
Favorite Book: The Giver
Favorite Food: My mom's cooking, fish
Favorite Movies: Notting Hill, The Notebook
Favorite TV Shows: Grey's Anatomy, Friends
City I've Never Been To But Want to Visit: Rome
Entertainment Figure I'd Most Like to have Dinner with: Oprah