 
| Get to know your Hatters! Every month we will bring you a little information, including a quick Q&A, with one incredible young lady in our select program. This month's Hatter is Jessica Haidet. |
Jessica Haidet has been a Hatter since 2004. She plays for Tophat 98/99 ECNL and is one of the captains of her team that will go to compete in ECNL Nationals in Rockford, Illinois in June. She is committed to play at University of Southern California (USC) and will enroll in the summer of 2017. She is senior at Pace Academy.
Who is your favorite soccer player? Messi
What is the best part of being a Hatter? The best part of being a Hatter is all the different people you get to meet. I’ve gotten to know so many girls that are older, younger, or the same age as me, either at Tophat or through the opportunities I’ve gotten as a result of being a Hatter. My teammates are some of my best friends that I will always stay in touch with and my coaches have taught me so much on and off
the soccer field.
What is your favorite memory as a soccer player? My favorite memory as a soccer player is when we beat Tulsa Soccer Club in the last couple of minutes in the region championship game in 2013. It was one of the hardest fought games our team has played and we got the result we wanted against a really good team.
What advice would you give to young Hatters? My advice to young Hatters is to stay focused on soccer while keeping a balance with school and your social life. If you love soccer, it’s the best outlet for when you are stressed or upset about anything else. You will meet so many life-long friends at Tophat and the opportunities you will have if you stay committed to soccer are unimaginable.
Do you remember where you were when the US won the World Cup in 2015? Yes - I was on a plane coming home from the beach and I remember everyone going crazy when we won.
Do you have any pre-game rituals? I always put on my left cleat & shinguard first. I also have to have a perfect ponytail or I get a bad feeling about the game.
Name one Hatter, past or present, that inspires you and why? A lot of my own teammates inspire me, but Grace Jackson from the 16 Tophat team has always been someone I look up to. I think she has been at Tophat for as long as I have and her work ethic was always so impressive to me. She is one of the most well-rounded soccer players I’ve ever played with and always kept a high intensity at practices and scrimmages. I know she also values school and has a lot of good friends so she reminds me that you can love soccer and be committed but still keep other aspects of your life in balance.