University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Luke Della
James Named NCAA All-American
11/29/2018 7:08:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DENTON — North Texas soccer junior Dominique James was named a NCAA All-American Thursday as voted by coaches.
James, who led the Mean Green to the 2018 Conference USA regular season and tournament championships and was named the 2018 C-USA Player of the Year, is the first UNT soccer player to earn the national honor.
"I'm very honored and humbled to have been named an all-American," James said. "It would not have been possible without my great teammates, coaches and family and the success we had as a team. We accomplished a lot this year and took our championship program to new heights. I'm excited and motivated to have another year to continue to build off this past season and improve my game and help us win even more matches."
The UNT defender and team captain who was named to the NCAA's third-team all-American honor has racked up the awards in her junior campaign.
Prior to the 2018 season, James, whose only offer out of Keller Central High School was to UNT, was named the conference's 2018 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Then following what was one of North Texas' most successful seasons, James was voted first-team all-conference for a second consecutive season, named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and then the conference's overall player of the year to go along with her all-academic honor, which was her second consecutive.
In addition to her all-American honor, she of course also earned a NCAA All-South Region honor with her Mean Green teammate Aaliyah Nolan.
"Dom had a heck of a year," said head Mean Green soccer coach John Hedlund. "From C-USA Defensive Player of the year to just receiving player of the year in our conference and now being named a NCAA All-American. Looking back, it all really started when I happen to attend a high school game and spotted this speedy kid blowing by everyone, I remember saying to myself, I definitely need this player in my lineup and now she's an all-American. I'm really proud of Dom, she has had a tremendous career here at UNT and being named all-American is such a prestigious award. A really great honor and obviously very well deserved."
In James' three years at UNT, she has started 56 matches and led the Mean Green to a 44-12-8 (.750) overall record, 24-3-3 (.850) C-USA record and two regular season conference championships and two conference tournament championships.
The Fort Worth native was named a captain as a sophomore, making her the youngest captain in the program's then 23-year history along with classmate Natalie Newell who was also named a captain that year as a sophomore.
James joins 2004 UNT graduate Marilyn Marin as Mean Green soccer players to earn NCAA national athletic honors. Marin was named a NCAA freshman all-American in 2000.
James, who led the Mean Green to the 2018 Conference USA regular season and tournament championships and was named the 2018 C-USA Player of the Year, is the first UNT soccer player to earn the national honor.
"I'm very honored and humbled to have been named an all-American," James said. "It would not have been possible without my great teammates, coaches and family and the success we had as a team. We accomplished a lot this year and took our championship program to new heights. I'm excited and motivated to have another year to continue to build off this past season and improve my game and help us win even more matches."
The UNT defender and team captain who was named to the NCAA's third-team all-American honor has racked up the awards in her junior campaign.
Prior to the 2018 season, James, whose only offer out of Keller Central High School was to UNT, was named the conference's 2018 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Then following what was one of North Texas' most successful seasons, James was voted first-team all-conference for a second consecutive season, named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and then the conference's overall player of the year to go along with her all-academic honor, which was her second consecutive.
In addition to her all-American honor, she of course also earned a NCAA All-South Region honor with her Mean Green teammate Aaliyah Nolan.
"Dom had a heck of a year," said head Mean Green soccer coach John Hedlund. "From C-USA Defensive Player of the year to just receiving player of the year in our conference and now being named a NCAA All-American. Looking back, it all really started when I happen to attend a high school game and spotted this speedy kid blowing by everyone, I remember saying to myself, I definitely need this player in my lineup and now she's an all-American. I'm really proud of Dom, she has had a tremendous career here at UNT and being named all-American is such a prestigious award. A really great honor and obviously very well deserved."
In James' three years at UNT, she has started 56 matches and led the Mean Green to a 44-12-8 (.750) overall record, 24-3-3 (.850) C-USA record and two regular season conference championships and two conference tournament championships.
The Fort Worth native was named a captain as a sophomore, making her the youngest captain in the program's then 23-year history along with classmate Natalie Newell who was also named a captain that year as a sophomore.
James joins 2004 UNT graduate Marilyn Marin as Mean Green soccer players to earn NCAA national athletic honors. Marin was named a NCAA freshman all-American in 2000.
Players Mentioned
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