Olivia Thomas (soccer)

Olivia Thomas
Thomas with North Carolina in 2024
Personal information
Full name Olivia Hylton Thomas[1]
Date of birth (2005-04-16) April 16, 2005 (age 19)[1][2]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 North Carolina Tar Heels
Number 33
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– North Carolina Tar Heels 29 (10)

Olivia Hylton Thomas (born April 16, 2005) is an American college soccer player who plays as a forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels. She helped lead the Tar Heels to the 2024 national championship as a sophomore, being named the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Early life and college career

Thomas was raised in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, the fourth of five children born to LaShanda and Terence Thomas. Her father played college football at Albion College.[1] Thomas began playing soccer with the Michigan Hawks at age 11. She she earned ECNL All-American honors in 2021 and 2023 and helped lead the Hawks to the ECNL under-19 national title game in 2023.[3][4] She attended University Liggett School, where she played two all-state seasons of field hockey and track and one season of soccer in her senior year.[1] She was called into United States youth national team camp at the under-17 level in 2021.[5] She committed to the North Carolina Tar Heels as a junior.[6]

North Carolina Tar Heels

Thomas scored one goal in 10 games (7 starts) as a freshman with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2023, but missed much of the latter half of season due to a hamstring tear.[1][3] In her sophomore season, she scored her first brace in a 4–3 win against Georgia.[7] She missed eight games due to a different hamstring strain but recovered to finish the 2024 season with a team-second-high 9 goals in 19 games (16 starts).[1][3] Four of her goals came in six games of the NCAA tournament as North Carolina won its 23rd national title and first since 2012. She scored the team's second goal in a 3–0 semifinal win against Duke and scored the only goal in the title game off a free kick in a 1–0 victory over Wake Forest. She was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Offensive Player.[1][8]

Honors

North Carolina Tar Heels

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Olivia Thomas". North Carolina Tar Heels. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "ECNL announces 2018 id2 camp roster". Elite Clubs National League. July 13, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
  3. ^ a b c Ramsey, Jared (December 17, 2024). "How Grosse Pointe native Olivia Thomas became a college soccer hero for North Carolina". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Olorunfemi, Victor (June 30, 2023). "ECNL Girls: Slammers Win U19 Championship". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
    "ECNL Girls 2022-23 All-American Teams". Elite Clubs National League. August 24, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2024 – via TopDrawerSoccer.
  5. ^ Eskilson, J.R. (February 4, 2021). "Call-ups for the U.S. U17 WNT Camp". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  6. ^ Clark, Travis (January 24, 2022). "SIMA Recruiting Roundup: Jan. 24-30". TopDrawerSoccer. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Brantley, Beckett (August 23, 2024). "Olivia Thomas propels UNC women's soccer to 4–3 win over Georgia". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Bynum, R.L. (December 9, 2024). "Queens of college soccer again: Thomas kicks in 23rd UNC national championship". Tar Heel Tribune. Retrieved December 10, 2024.