On October 14, 2024, the Revere Women’s Soccer goalie, Abby Thomas was warming up for her first playoff game as a senior. Thomas warms up for thirty minutes with the varsity backup, Alexis Caranna. They stretch out their muscles with the team, in a circle. After stretching both Thomas and Alexis make their way to the goal to perform a variety of drills. Which include catching, diving, and kicking. After the goalies warm up, their teammates shoot Thomas to get her ready for the game, this consists of her warming up before the game.
Thomas has a twin brother named Jacob. Thomas is a senior in high school, and has played soccer for 8 years. Throughout Thomas’ soccer career she has had multiple knee injuries which affected her playing.
“Throughout my injuries my family always seemed to be next to me, assisting me,” Thomas said.
Thomas’ twin Jacob Thomas explained that his sister and his relationship is strong.
“I’d say we are really close, given that we are twins. Even from when we were little we were always close and did everything together,” Jacob Thomas said.
They have played soccer together on different teams and would practice together when they were young. Thomas and Jacob have been playing soccer for more than seven years. Thomas plays soccer for the Revere team and has for the past four years. In her freshman year she played Junior Varsity, and in her next three years she started Varsity. She plays the position of goalie. Thomas and her brother would play soccer in the back yard together when they were young.
“I would need someone to shoot on, so that’s when I started to involve Abby,” Jacob Thomas said.
Jacob Thomas would practice his shots on Thomas. That is what got her into the goalie position.
“I decided to become a goalie when Jacob got me into playing soccer, because we would play in the backyard and he needed someone to shoot on. So I would just play goalie for fun,” Thomas said.
Thomas has played soccer for two different club teams, which include Everest and Internationals. Most recently she played goalie for the Elite Clubs National League Regional League at Internationals (i.e. Revere High School). With this team Thomas traveled to a number of states over the summer. Looking to keep growing in her sport, she switched clubs.
“I wanted to do something maybe at the next level,” Thomas said.
Thomas has played on high level teams. She has mentally been challenged and changed. In her freshman year, Thomas tore her right Anterior Cruciate Ligament during a soccer game against the Bay Rockets. Thomas’ dad, Paul Thomas, witnessed the game.
“I walked over to where the [athletic] trainer was working with her, and the trainer had concerns, but Abby wanted to go back in,” he said.
Based on the trainer’s opinions Paul Thomas did not let Thomas go back into the game. She ended her season early and got surgery. Jacob Thomas shared his thoughts on the incident.
“I would say the first time she tore her ACL it was more devastating,” Jacob Thomas said.
She explained that when it happened she heard a “pop” and her leg went numb. She said it happened so fast she did not think much of it. Thomas took a goal kick right after she tore it unknowingly and immediately was in pain. She took a knee to alert the trainers. They came out to her and helped her off the field.
“I was in shock the first time it happened,” Thomas said.
It took her eleven months to recover after her surgery, and she had a second surgery on her knee to remove scar tissue. She went through ACTIV Physical Therapy.
“I don’t think I would’ve been able to come back to soccer if I didn’t go through physical therapy. I think it helped me mentally, to help me stay focused and give me something to look forward to because at that point I couldn’t do anything,” Thomas said
Thomas’ long recovery led her to have a healthy sophomore and junior soccer season. After working up the strength back in her right knee, Thomas tore her left Anterior Cruciate Ligament this summer during soccer practice.
“This time I knew God would help me get through it. I just handed my worries to him. He gave me hope,” Thomas said.
Thomas resorted to God after her second tear. She explained how much she wanted to play her senior year even with a torn ligament. She trusted God’s plan, and put her worries towards him.
Paul Thomas talked about his opinion about Thomas’ relationship with God.
“Abby has a strong relationship with God. . . . She knows that the answers come in God’s time, not hers,” he said.
Thomas’ family members explained how she resorted to Christ after her ACL tears, he gave her hope for playing her senior year.
Though Thomas has not gotten surgery yet on her most recent ACL tear, she plans to get surgery after the girls soccer season.
“I wanted to play my senior year. That was it,” Thomas said
She wears a brace during her games, which helps her. Thomas has resorted to Christ during these times, because he gives her faith. Thomas attends Grace Church and she goes to Merge on Wednesday with her friends. Her relationship with God has grown over the months.
“My relationship with God has helped my mentality.” Thomas said
Throughout her injuries her mentality has weakened, but getting closer with God has helped her.
Thomas gained hopefulness throughout multiple incidents that occurred in her life. She is close with her family and enjoys playing soccer with her friends. “The team is the best part, throughout all my years.” Thomas said. “God has affected my mentality in the best way possible.”
