Nov. 4, 1997
Freshman Label No Obstacle for Clark
By Luanne Muller
ASU Sports Information Student Assistant
The Arizona State women's soccer team began its second year eager to have a winning season. That, they knew, could only be done with a team that is aggressive and ready to win. The team, now 11-6, has already topped many of its records from last year.
They have scored six goals in a game, which tops last year's four, the team has shutout five of its opponents compared to last year's one, and they have surpassed the most wins in a season, which was previously four.
In addition to the team records, there are individuals who have broken records. Jacklyn Clark, a freshman forward from Rochester Hills, Mich., is one of them.
As a starter, Clark has made her presence known on the second-year team. She currently leads the team in goals with nine, and is tied with midfielder Antoinette Marjanovic for the top spot in points with 23. She also has five assists.
Last year's top goal scorer had four goals, and the top assister lead the team with three. After the team's 16 games last year, one player lead the team with 10 points.
Being a forward, Clark is in front of the net quite frequently, and she has fired 37 shots at the opponents' goalkeepers.
This performance is not unexpected from Clark, who excelled as a high school soccer player in Michigan before coming to ASU.
A 1997 graduate of Rochester High School, Clark lettered four years in soccer. She was the captain of the team her junior and senior years and her leadership was felt throughout the team as she was also named the team MVP for those two seasons.
Setting records is also not something unusual to Clark. During her sophomore year in high school, Clark broke the Rochester HIgh scoring record with 24 goals, which she had previously set with 23 in her freshman year.
At the end of her senior year, Clark's name was scattered throughout the Rochester High record books.
She topped career records in goals (84), assists (41), points (209), game-winning goals (25) and hat tricks (8).
Along with her high school experience, Clark also played soccer abroad. She was named a member of the Michigan Olympic Development Team, and traveled with them to England, Wales, Denmark and Sweden to compete in international tournaments.
While soccer was her main focus, Clark also competed in gymnastics during high school. As is to be expected, she excelled there as well.She lettered four years in the sport, and was the team captain during her junior and senior seasons. She earned all-state honors all four years of high school competition, and she was the league and regional champion in the all-around her senior year.
Clark came to ASU to play soccer, and she has done just that. Since she is only a freshman, she will be able to make a lasting contribution to the team. As a matter of fact, in her only first year, she already has.