Athlete of the Week: Jacie Lemos
Upper Jacie Lemos, co-captain of the girl’s varsity soccer team, excels at the sport because of her endurance, finesse and commitment. This season she has led the team by example and helped unify her teammates, as well as inspire hard work and dedication.
Lemos learned to play soccer at the age of five, started at an indoor club when she was seven, and by the time she was eleven, played in a year round league. Despite Exeter’s demanding schedule, ever since she came to Exeter as a prep she has remained just as committed to soccer as ever, participating both in Exeter soccer and outside leagues.
“While at Exeter, outside of school soccer is year round, so in the fall it is every Sunday for an hour and a half practice, in the Winter its Friday night games, but in the spring it picks up a lot and I might have three hour and a half practices during the week and one or two games on the weekends,” Lemos said.
In fact, Lemos has become more dedicated to soccer ever since her high school career at Exeter began, both during the school year and during the summer. “Since I’ve come to Exeter, my commitment to soccer has been about the same as before, maybe a little more,” she said. “In the summer I’ve started playing more on my own too, going to a field by myself and listening to music and shooting.”
Although soccer requires an enormous amount of time and work, Lemos remains committed to her team and inspired by her teammates. “Being on a varsity team at Exeter, well, the soccer team is very tight-knit, probably the tightest team I’ve ever been on in my entire life. Having that team dynamic makes you feel more committed and pushes you to do better.”
As an upper captain on such a young team, Lemos tries to push the younger players and teach them to challenge themselves to build the team for future years. “It’s really great being an upper captain because we only have three seniors this year but around fifteen lowerclassmen on the team, so the majority of our team is underclassmen,” she said.
Lemos also said that, although all three captains are uppers, they lead the team from past experience and are up to the task. “Usually people have more experience coming in as captain, but I think I can speak for all three of us when I say that we felt like upperclassmen on the team last season even though we were lowers. So I think we were ready, and having them with me has made it really fun and the teams been great.”
Her teammates believe that her experience and talent elevate the level of play of the team as a whole. Lemos’ fellow co-captain, Michaela Streep, commended her talent and speed on the field.
“She is such an impact player on the field. Her foot skills are unbelievable, it's like she is Messi's daughter or something. Her speed, too, she's like Usain Bolt's child,” Streep said. “She controls the ball so well, and she sees the field, so she does everything. She sets people up, she has amazing crosses, she scores at will. She's also super selfless on the field. She always sets up other people, and sometimes she has a shot and she gives it up for someone else to take it. She's always for the team.”
Fellow co-captain Charlotte Dillon also praised Lemos’ ability to create offense potential. “She is one of our most offensive players and really helps motivate the players. And, when we need to build up momentum to generate shots and offense, which is one thing we have been really focusing on, Jacie definitely helps people see that shot and generate offense.”
Above her talent and athletic ability, her teammates appreciate her leadership and the way she prioritizes the team. Upper Bridget Higgins mentioned that Lemos is always there for her, whether it be for school work or improving her shot.
“She will help you with chem homework or cram for a math test and at the same time she can motivate you to play harder. She is a leader on and off the field,” Higgins said. “Jacie has been a role model ever since I started playing. She motivates everyone on the team to be better than they were yesterday and to take every opportunity they can to be better player.”
"She will help you with chem homework or cram for a math test and at the same time she can motivate you to play harder. She is a leader on and off the field."
Streep echoed Higgins’ thoughts, emphasizing Lemos’ humility and kindness. “Whether we go to the field or to team dinner or on the bus, we always laugh together and have fun. With her, it's not a competition of who's the best player or leader or captain,” Streep said. “She never acts like she's better than anyone else. She is so humble and selfless. One of the most talented girls I know. She has total bragging rights, but whenever anyone compliments her, she denies it and laughs.”
Coach Coder, varsity girls’ soccer coach and Lemos’ coach for the past three years, said that Lemos is a unique player, not only because of her athleticism, but also because of her demeanors. “Everything about Jacie Lemos is gargantuan except her actual size. Her smile, her brain, her work ethic, her humility and her ability to make others around her feel good. All huge, larger than life qualities. And it is a short, beginning list of why she is so revered by her teammates and opponents,” Coder said.
Senior Madeleine Duncan respects Lemos for her charismatic and encouraging nature. “Jacie is an all around star,” Duncan said. “She is always there to hear you out. She is outgoing and incredibly nice. On the field she works really hard and always gives it her all. And is constantly encouraging us all to push ourselves.”
Coder admires Lemos for her integrity on and off the field. “Jacie is Jacie because of who she is as a person not because she is a good athlete. Being a powerful athlete is simply an expression of all the amazing things that are the make-up of Jacie. She is respected and adored whether there is a ball at her feet or not!”