Every shot in soccer creates a pressure situation for a goalkeeper. Every game puts pressure on a top-ranked team. Every award won increases the pressure a player feels to win it again.
Just don’t tell Ryan Thompson that he’s under pressure.
The University of Tampa senior goalie appears as the very definition of calm as he greets everyone he meets with a smile. His relaxed demeanor helps him have fun on and off the field with the No. 1 ranked Spartans.
“I socialize with every single person on campus,” Thompson said.
“That’s the most important thing. I think it adds to my playing ability, because I feel like I’m playing in front of a bunch of friends.”
Growing up in Jamaica, Thompson played sports with friends from an early age. Soccer was not his first sport – he ran track and played cricket as a youth before discovering “the beautiful game.”
He filled in one day as goalie in a pickup game. Another player convinced him to try out for a local team. Despite his belief that he was “the worst goalkeeper there” at the time, he made the squad and it sparked his interest. He used the experience to hone his skills.
Thompson eventually became good enough to earn spots on the elite Jamaican U-20 and U-23 national soccer teams. The experience prepared him well for his future in the sport.
“The more games I played, the more I felt comfortable and my confidence level grew,” Thompson said. “I played at a higher level on the national teams. Coming to college, it was about the same level or a bit lower. So those games made me a lot better.”
After his prep career, Thompson was heavily recruited by U.S. colleges. He decided to attend UT because of the atmosphere on campus. He liked how personable the people were, especially head coach Adrian Bush, and he described the tropical Florida weather as “perfect.”
His work quickly drew notice in and outside of Tampa. He was voted to the Sunshine State Conference All-Tournament and to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll teams as a sophomore, despite having started just eight games.
In 2008, his first year as a full-time starter, Thompson’s work in the net was rewarded with the ultimate prize, the SSC Defensive Player of the Year award. He recorded eight shutouts in 23 games and set a Spartan record during his junior year by making 15 saves in consecutive games.
Thompson’s award reflected not only upon himself, but the work of the team in front of him.
“It was a great achievement,” Thompson said. “I know I wasn’t the only one responsible. Though I was the one that got recognized, defense is a team effort. Offense wins the game, but defense wins the tournament.”
The award was redeeming, but this season’s goals are for his team to win its own top prize.
“We’ll take it one game at a time, try to improve as individuals and as a team,” Thompson said. “But hopefully at the end we’ll win the national championship.”
Thompson’s life after UT might mirror his life at UT. He has ambitions to start his professional career in Major League Soccer (MLS) after his time with the Spartans is finished.
“I really hope and pray soccer works out for me after school,” Thompson said. “If not, I’ll have my degree. But I would like to start with MLS and play there until more opportunities open up. Wherever the sport takes me, I’ll just live in the moment.”