It was Friday morning and Lindsay Thompson was feeling fine.
“We beat LSU,” Thompson said. “It was a must-win game.”
Yeah, things are going quite well for Thompson, a standout soccer star at Lakewood Ranch who is now a sophomore at the University of Florida.
Actually, quite well is an understatement. Thompson’s transition from high school — where she scored 127 goals and led the Mustangs to four district championships — to college has been seamless.
She shook off the possible distractions — being away from home, learning a new position, juggling her schoolwork with the rigors of being a Division I athlete on scholarship — as if they were a lead-footed defender.
“It’s going well,” she said.
And it has been from the beginning. Thompson appeared in all 24 games with the Gators last season, finishing with eight goals, an assist and 17 points en route to earning a spot on the Southeastern Conference’s All-Freshman team. She also became the first Gator to win the conference’s offensive and freshman player of the week honors simultaneously in helping Florida win the regular-season conference championship — an achievement that earned Thompson and her teammates a ring.
“It’s a very big ring. I wear it on occasion,” she said. “But it’s very gaudy.”
Thompson credited her quick transition to the college game to her club team, the Countryside Lightning, and her time spent in the Florida State A Olympic Development Program.
“It goes back to your club and ODP (Olympic Development Program) experience,” she said. “It’s the closest you get to playing in this type of situation. If you put yourself in a hard situation with your club and ODP, it makes coming to college easier.”
Thompson had to make another adjustment this season — when the Gators lost forward Ashlee Elliott to a season-ending ligament tear, Thompson, a midfielder, had to learn play a little forward.
She had to get used to playing with her back to the ball instead of running toward the ball, and had to do so while playing with one of the top women’s programs in the country.
But Thompson has flourished while splitting time between her new position and old one. Heading into the weekend, she led the Gators in goals (eight), which was tied for second-best in the SEC, and points (17). Three of her goals have been game winners.
“It’s a little surprising to see how much of a handful she is for defenders,” said Florida coach Becky Burleigh. “You see that in the youth leagues, but you never know how it’s going to translate to the college game.”
Consequently, Florida, ranked 12th in the nation, is 12-4-2 overall and 6-1-2 in the SEC.
“We have two more games left, and all of us are looking toward that,” Thompson said. “From there, we’re going to focus on the SEC Tournament and trying to make the NCAA (Tournament).”
Yet Thompson’s enjoyment hasn’t been limited to the soccer field. A health science major, Thompson made the SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll last year, and credits her friend and fellow Lakewood Ranch alum, senior midfielder Jessica Eicken, with helping her get used to college life.
“Eicken has been there for me,” Thompson said. “I’m very happy for that.”
And she’s happy her parents, Dale and Elizabeth, both of whom are Florida alums, make it to every home game.
“I love having their support,” she said. “It’s made the transition easier.” Easier on the Gators, harder on their opponents.
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