Ewing, NJ... For some, walking on to a field with a team full of talented veterans and a legacy set to be passed on to promising newcomers might be a little intimidating.

But not for Jessica Clarke (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley), a four year starter in goal for The College of New Jersey's women's soccer team.

From the first day of practice, she came onto the team expecting the best, with her teammates expecting the best out of her.

Well, they got a little more.

Clarke was the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Goalkeeper of the Year. She made the All-NJAC 2nd Team in 2006 and the All-NJAC 1st Team in 2007. Since her rookie campaign, Clarke has had at least 13 wins and eight shutouts each of her four seasons.

And on October 24, Clarke broke a record she never expected to break.

In the game against Ramapo College, she etched her name into TCNJ's record book by becoming the women's soccer program's all-time leader in shutouts, with a whopping 42 shutouts, breaking the previous record of 41, set by Victoria Nusse in 1998-2001.

“I'm very honored to have broken that, but I'm not naive enough to think it was because of me,” said Clarke on the record, “I mean our defense has always been tremendous here at The College of New Jersey. We've always had great players playing in the back and defensively as a whole team and as a unit. So I could never say that that's a tribute to my skill level.”

Yet, the team's success has come in large part from Clarke's talent and athletic ability, despite her modest ways of thinking. Not to mention, she has an immeasurable capacity to lead and push the team both during practice and at games.

“Jess has a good work ethic,” said Head Coach, Joe Russo, “I think she's competitive and she has a good inner drive to compete, which you don't always find all the time on the women's side. And she has the ability to lead.”

Clarke knew that coming into the soccer program she was always going to have to compete at a high level. She had standards and a legacy of a dominant and powerful team to live up to. From the first day of practice, Clarke had a goal of emulating the leaders before her.

“They were able to have a line between friends and when leadership and control has to come in,” said Clarke, “And I think part of being a good leader is being able to just understand the differences, knowing when it's time to get going and get on people, but also, you want people to respect you and understand that you're there for them. So, it can be a tricky balance sometimes.”

But balance she does.

“Jess has been the one, constant and steady factor on our team for the past four years, so she's been invaluable for us,” said Russo, “She's going to be very difficult to replace.”

TCNJ's record stands at 15-2 as they placed second in the NJAC standings. The Lions open the NJAC Tournament on November 3, where they will be playing William Paterson University in the semifinals at the Lions' Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

Let's see if Clarke can cap off a winning career with one last NJAC Championship before she goes.