Coming a long way from her hometown in Sugar Land, Texas, senior Cowgirl soccer player Sydney Jones could not imagine her college sports career would be coming to a close so soon. Before concluding her fall season at UW, Jones had an impressive last game as she scored the only goal in the team’s final game of the season against Air Force. Not only did Jones have a great final game, but also, because of all her hard work in both soccer and in her academics, Jones was named this week’s Student Athlete of the Week.
Jones came to Wyoming in 2009 after playing for her high school Stephen F. Austin. The team was a 5-A District Champion in 2006 and 2008. In 2008, Jones was nominated to the All-District team for her efforts. She then proceeded to earn her place as a defender on the Cowgirls’ team. She has been occupying her time with her sport and her studies, as she is majoring in zoology and environmental/natural resources.
During her first season for the Cowgirls, Jones had more playing time than most of the other freshman. Because of that, she earned her first UW letter in 2009. Continuing into her sophomore year, Jones played in 20 games, starting in eight. According to the Wyoming Athletics Department, she was named an Academic All-Mountain West honoree that year for her work in the classroom and earned her second letter award as a Cowgirl.
Jones’ junior and senior years here at the University have been the strongest of her career. By her junior season, she was one of the team’s key defenders, playing in all 22 games and starting all but one. Reports from the athletics department showed that she scored 14 goals out of the 26 shots she took throughout that season. That year she earned her second consecutive Academic All-MW honor and her third Cowgirl letter award. She also was given the team Steamboat award for her play during the 2011 season. In her senior year, she played and started in every game. She helped guide the team in a season full of broken records and titles.
Playing for a grand total of 4,508 minutes, Jones has left her mark on the Cowgirl soccer team’s turf. Though she is expected to be graduating in the spring, her legacy will not be forgotten. The influence and guidance she provided her younger teammates with during her time spent on the team will benefit the Cowgirl’s for the years to come.
