AWARDS:
- SoCon Defensive Player of the Week (10/19/21)
2023: Saw time in three matches, earning one start…played for 7:29 in the shutout victory over Francis Marion…saw time against Chattanooga and Mercer.
JUNIOR (2022-23): Appeared in seven games, starting in six for the Bulldogs…Recorded three shutouts against Charleston Southern (Sept. 13), Samford (Sept. 23), and VMI (Oct. 25)…Second on the team with 20 saves…Posted a .690 save percentage for the season…Season-high in saves against Samford with six in a 1-0 victory for The Citadel…Registered 491:01 minutes in the goal for the Bulldogs
SOPHOMORE (2021-22): Started 16 out of the 19 matches, appearing in all contests… Improved on her previous season’s and the program’s single season record for goals against average, showing a 0.97 mark over 1667 minutes played… Also, broke the record for save percentage in all-time Citadel Women’s Soccer history posting .859... Recorded 5 solo shutouts against USC Upstate (Aug. 26), Stetson (Sept. 5), ETSU (Sept. 24), Chattanooga (Oct. 1) and VMI (Oct. 8)… Integral to the team for 8 total shutouts for the season and was critical in breaking the team record for least amount of goals conceded in a season with 22, which previously stood at 23 goals against in the 2020-2021 campaign. Completed a season-high 18 saves to allow a double overtime draw against Mercer (Oct. 15), of which helped Newton win the SoCon defensive Player of the Week… Along with teammates Maddie Somogyi and Shannon Curtis, the Bulldog keepers broke the team season record for highest save percentage with .838 and lowest goals against average, 1.13…
FRESHMAN (2020-21): Started 11 of the 12 matches in which she appeared, becoming The Citadel’s starting goalkeeper immediately by starting her first collegiate match against Georgia Southern (Sept. 14)… Shattered the program’s previous single-season record for goals against average, recording a 1.08 mark across 1,085 minutes played… Became the 10th goalkeeper in program history to play more than 1,000 minutes in a single season… Recorded three solo shutouts against Appalachian State (Oct. 1), Georgia Southern (Oct. 16) and Jacksonville (Feb. 19)… Made a season-high 10 saves to preserve a 1-1 draw against Mercer (Sept. 17)… Paired with Brie Sikes to limit opponents to only 23 goals for the season, breaking the previous program record of 28 set during the 2009 campaign.
HIGH SCHOOL: A four-time varsity letterwinnner at Melbourne High School, was a two-sport athlete, playing soccer all four years and running cross country for one … Named team captain as a senior in 2019 … During junior season, posted a record of 17-2-1 after earning the full-time keeper position the season before as a sophomore … Led team to district championship and was instrumental in the team advancing to regionals as a sophomore … As a freshman, played four varsity games, logging shutouts in each, and was the starting goalkeeper on the junior varsity team, giving up just one goal on the year … Led the JV team with a record of 15-1 en route to winning the district title and advancing to regionals … Was an active member of the Melbourne JROTC and served as the senior class president … Was the Vice Corps Commander (the second in command of the JROTC's 200-plus corps of cadets), and is an officer in her National Honors Society … As a junior, was voted the junior class vice president and was selected for one of eight positions on staff for the JROTC … Was also nominated by her teachers to represent her high school at Girls State 2019 and was the No. 1 pick in her district to attend Girls State … As a sophomore, earned the Academic Ribbon, Longevity Ribbon, Distinguished Unit and Distinguished Unit with Merit Ribbons, the Health and Wellness Ribbon and earned the position of Flight Sergeant and Flight Commander … Also earned the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Award and was nominated for the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Conference … Was nominated for and attended the National Student Leadership Conference at the American University for National Security and Intelligence, and was honored to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. … As a Freshman, earned the Air Commando Association (ACA) Award in JROTC … On her club team, was instrumental in the team winning all of their games en route to winning the Florida Cup as a junior … Led the team to the finals in the State Cup and regionals in Louisiana where they went 2-1-1, becoming the first girl’s team in Brevard County to advance to the quarter finals … As a sophomore on Space Coast United, led the team to the Disney Showcase, and made it to the Elite 8 in State Cup. As a freshman, Newton began her career with Space Coast United's U17 team of the SRPL League, while also playing for the U16 NPL and FSPL teams. She led the team to a Georgia tournament and to the Disney Showcase, and was named the captain for her club team.
PERSONAL: Full name is Jessica Rae Newton … Daughter of John and Sheila Newton … Brother, Grant, is a member of the United States Merchant Marine Academy water polo team, and also rowed … Major is criminal justice.
