Jason Thompson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Jason Thompson is an American soccer player who last played striker
for D.C. United
of Major League Soccer
.
Thompson played college soccer
at Eastern Illinois University
from 2000 to 2002. Thompson made a very strong start in his freshman year, surprising everybody by scoring 21 goals to lead the NCAA Division I, and was named the Missouri Valley Conference
Newcomer of the Year and chosen for Soccer America's All-Freshman team. Thompson's next year was not quite so impressive, due to injuries however, as he scored only five goals. Thompson did significantly better in 2002, however, finishing the year with 14 goals and four assists, earning him a first-team All-Midwest selection. Because of his performances for the Under-23 United States Men's National Soccer Team
, Thompson was offered a Nike Project-40 contract after his junior season, which he accepted.
Thompson was selected 15th overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft
by his hometown Dallas Burn
. Unfortunately, Thompson tore his ACL
during the preseason while playing with the U-23 team, and missed all of the 2003 season. On returning in 2004, Thompson had trouble breaking into new coach Colin Clarke's veteran-dominated lineup, and after making one appearance, was traded to D.C. United. Competition among forwards was equally strong at D.C., however, and although Thompson plays a target forward role unlike United's other strikers, he only made one appearance for the team, coming on as a substitute and playing 60 minutes. D.C. United, and Thompson, went on to win the 2004 MLS Cup with a 3-2 victory over Kansas City Wizards
, at The Home Depot Center
in Carson, California. Thompson went on to play the entire 2005 season with D.C. United, one that saw United finish second in the Eastern Conference, before he was released into the waiver draft of that subsequent off-season.
Thompson is currently earning his Doctor of Medicine
at The University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
for D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Thompson played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
from 2000 to 2002. Thompson made a very strong start in his freshman year, surprising everybody by scoring 21 goals to lead the NCAA Division I, and was named the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
Newcomer of the Year and chosen for Soccer America's All-Freshman team. Thompson's next year was not quite so impressive, due to injuries however, as he scored only five goals. Thompson did significantly better in 2002, however, finishing the year with 14 goals and four assists, earning him a first-team All-Midwest selection. Because of his performances for the Under-23 United States Men's National Soccer Team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, Thompson was offered a Nike Project-40 contract after his junior season, which he accepted.
Thompson was selected 15th overall in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft
2003 MLS SuperDraft
The 2003 Major League Soccer SuperDraft was held January 17, 2003 in Kansas City, Missouri.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:-Round 6:References=* USA Today MLS Draft List...
by his hometown Dallas Burn
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. Unfortunately, Thompson tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
during the preseason while playing with the U-23 team, and missed all of the 2003 season. On returning in 2004, Thompson had trouble breaking into new coach Colin Clarke's veteran-dominated lineup, and after making one appearance, was traded to D.C. United. Competition among forwards was equally strong at D.C., however, and although Thompson plays a target forward role unlike United's other strikers, he only made one appearance for the team, coming on as a substitute and playing 60 minutes. D.C. United, and Thompson, went on to win the 2004 MLS Cup with a 3-2 victory over Kansas City Wizards
Kansas City Wizards
Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
, at The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center
The Home Depot Center is a multiple-use sports complex located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills in Carson, California. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. Its title sponsor is hardware retailer The Home Depot. The $150 million complex was...
in Carson, California. Thompson went on to play the entire 2005 season with D.C. United, one that saw United finish second in the Eastern Conference, before he was released into the waiver draft of that subsequent off-season.
Thompson is currently earning his Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
at The University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is an institute of health science education and research, located in the South Texas Medical Center....
.