University of South Carolina player Jackie Schaefer medically retires

COLUMBIA, S.C. (University of South Carolina)– Sophomore Jackie Schaefer of the University of South Carolina women’s soccer team has announced that she will medically retire from the sport of soccer and miss her junior and senior seasons. Schaefer suffered a concussion on Oct. 21, against LSU, and missed the remainder of the 2018 season.

Schaefer started all 16 matches she played in during the 2018 season and started 36 of her 37 matches in her career. She was a big part in the Gamecocks run to their first ever appearance in the College Cup in 2017. Schaefer started in all five of South Carolina’s NCAA Tournament matches in 2017, helping allow just two goals and notching four shutouts. Schaefer was named to the SEC Community Service team in both of her seasons with the program and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2017.

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In the classroom Schaefer has been more impressive. She was named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll in 2017 and was a member of the CoSIDA Academic District 4 Team in 2018.

Schaefer will remain with the women’s soccer program while she pursues her degree in Nursing. Check back later for a My Signature piece on Schaefer and her decision to medically retire.