Photo by: © Jeff Sochko | GWUPhotos.com
Gardner-Webb's Jada Newton Plays For U.S. Virgin Islands In 2019 FIFA Olympic Qualifier
October 10, 2019 | Women's Soccer
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb sophomore Jada Newton got a once-in-a-lifetime experience as she played for the U.S. Virgin Islands senior women's national team in the 2019 FIFA Olympic Qualifier from October 2-8, 2019.
"It meant a lot to be able to represent the Virgin Islands," said Newton. "My father was born and raised there, and my family and I lived there for about seven years. We go back during the summers to visit family, so the Virgin Islands holds a very special place in my heart."
The USVI squad held its training camp from September 27-29 in Brandon, Florida before heading to Kingston, Jamaica for the preliminary Olympic qualifier. The U.S. Virgin Islands was in Group B along with St. Lucia, Cuba, Jamaica and Barbados.
The team began play on Wednesday, October 2 against St. Lucia and played every second day. The team battled Cuba on October 4 and Jamaica on October 6 before concluding play against Barbados on October 8. All games were played in National Stadium, located in the heart of Kingston, Jamacia, and although the USVI team fell in all four of its matches, Newton still enjoyed her experience.
"I spent most of my life watching international play, and after practicing with the national team a few times over different summers, I realized it would be a great opportunity to represent the Virgin Islands and reach my goal of playing at that same international level I grew up watching," she said. "I was able to build strong bonds with my teammates while getting to soak in the atmosphere and enjoyed of international play."
Newton, a forward, lived in the Virgin Islands for seven years. Her family moved to Woodbridge, Va. during her early teenage years, and she went on to star for the Osborn Park High School soccer team before coming to Gardner-Webb.
With the Runnin' Bulldogs, Newton logged 1,288 minutes as a true freshman in 2018 and was second on the team with 10 goals and 20 points. She scored in five of her first seven matches and netted the game-winning goal against USC Upstate in the Big South Conference semifinals to send GWU to the championship match against Radford. She received numerous postseason accolades, including Second-Team All-Big South, Big South All-Freshman team honors and recognition from the North Carolina Sports Information Association (NCCSIA).
Through 11 matches this season, she has scored three goals and played more than 600 minutes.
"It was a great experience for Jada to play for her national team and compete in the Olympic Qualification process," said head coach Mike Varga. "It is an honor to represent your country, and I am proud of Jada and all that she has accomplished. I am sure she will come back eager to put on the red and black and be prepared for this important part of our Big South schedule."
Newton departed following Gardner-Webb's win over Winthrop on September 25, and the team went 2-1 in her absence in Big South play. The 'Dogs defeated Hampton at home, 1-0, finished two matches on the road with a .500 mark, falling to Campbell but defeating Charleston Southern.
Newton returned with just under an hour remaining in pre-game on Wednesday night as the Runnin' Bulldogs battled High Point. Despite a pair of two-hour flights followed by a commute to Boiling Springs, Newton came off the bench to play 36 minutes in the loss.
With international play complete, Newton will look to help the Runnin' Bulldogs make a charge to the top of the Big South Conference standings over the final month of the season. Gardner-Webb's next contest is a Big South road match at Presbyterian on Saturday, October 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.
"It meant a lot to be able to represent the Virgin Islands," said Newton. "My father was born and raised there, and my family and I lived there for about seven years. We go back during the summers to visit family, so the Virgin Islands holds a very special place in my heart."
The USVI squad held its training camp from September 27-29 in Brandon, Florida before heading to Kingston, Jamaica for the preliminary Olympic qualifier. The U.S. Virgin Islands was in Group B along with St. Lucia, Cuba, Jamaica and Barbados.
The team began play on Wednesday, October 2 against St. Lucia and played every second day. The team battled Cuba on October 4 and Jamaica on October 6 before concluding play against Barbados on October 8. All games were played in National Stadium, located in the heart of Kingston, Jamacia, and although the USVI team fell in all four of its matches, Newton still enjoyed her experience.
"I spent most of my life watching international play, and after practicing with the national team a few times over different summers, I realized it would be a great opportunity to represent the Virgin Islands and reach my goal of playing at that same international level I grew up watching," she said. "I was able to build strong bonds with my teammates while getting to soak in the atmosphere and enjoyed of international play."
Newton, a forward, lived in the Virgin Islands for seven years. Her family moved to Woodbridge, Va. during her early teenage years, and she went on to star for the Osborn Park High School soccer team before coming to Gardner-Webb.
With the Runnin' Bulldogs, Newton logged 1,288 minutes as a true freshman in 2018 and was second on the team with 10 goals and 20 points. She scored in five of her first seven matches and netted the game-winning goal against USC Upstate in the Big South Conference semifinals to send GWU to the championship match against Radford. She received numerous postseason accolades, including Second-Team All-Big South, Big South All-Freshman team honors and recognition from the North Carolina Sports Information Association (NCCSIA).
Through 11 matches this season, she has scored three goals and played more than 600 minutes.
"It was a great experience for Jada to play for her national team and compete in the Olympic Qualification process," said head coach Mike Varga. "It is an honor to represent your country, and I am proud of Jada and all that she has accomplished. I am sure she will come back eager to put on the red and black and be prepared for this important part of our Big South schedule."
Newton departed following Gardner-Webb's win over Winthrop on September 25, and the team went 2-1 in her absence in Big South play. The 'Dogs defeated Hampton at home, 1-0, finished two matches on the road with a .500 mark, falling to Campbell but defeating Charleston Southern.
Newton returned with just under an hour remaining in pre-game on Wednesday night as the Runnin' Bulldogs battled High Point. Despite a pair of two-hour flights followed by a commute to Boiling Springs, Newton came off the bench to play 36 minutes in the loss.
With international play complete, Newton will look to help the Runnin' Bulldogs make a charge to the top of the Big South Conference standings over the final month of the season. Gardner-Webb's next contest is a Big South road match at Presbyterian on Saturday, October 12. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Clinton, S.C.
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