Skyleigh Thompson had a real shot at playing soccer professionally.  

“I always like to say, soccer was my first love and my first heartbreak,” she said.  

Her ache for the sport started as a childish endeavor to copy her big sister, Shayenn. Five-year-old Thompson got a kick out of crowding her older sister at soccer practice. 

“I was the mega annoying younger sister, for sure,” Thompson said.  

But her copycat intentions were soon overtaken by an independent, competitive drive. 

Thompson stood out her freshman year at Flathead High School – she scored seven goals for the Bravettes by the end of the season. She was promoted to team captain the following year, and led the high school girls’ soccer team to the 2018 Western AA state tournament. They defeated Helena High 4-0, and she netted another five goals that year.  

As a junior, Thompson was Western AA’s top female soccer player, rounding out the season with an astounding 24 goals. Western AA is a premier soccer conference that features eight major high schools in western Montana. Thompson was No. 1 again in her senior year, scoring another 17 goals. 

“It definitely grew into my own love and passion for the sport as I got older,” she said.

Thompson knew she wanted to play in college, and attended I.D. camps regularly in Missoula, a soccer practice that exposes high school players to college recruiters. She hoped to grab the attention of Montana Coach Chris Citowicki.  

The University of Montana Grizzlies was her dream team, Thompson said. Few of the soccer players are natives of the Big Sky state, and she hoped to add one more. 

“It’s so special to be able to represent your home state, and show other people this is doable,” Thompson said.  

One camp in November 2019 turned that dream into reality. She received a few offers, including one from Eastern Washington University. A few days later, Citowicki called.  

“I remember I was by the school coffee shop ... and I sprint back to my dad’s classroom,” Thompson said. “There’s a class of kids in there, and I’m freaking out.” 

Her dad, Jeff Thompson, was a wrestler at the University of Minnesota and coaches the Flathead High School wrestling team. He knew a thing or two about the collegiate recruitment process and advised his daughter to be cool. Sit on the offer for a few days.  

She waited two before picking up the phone. 

HER REPUTATION as a star player followed her after high school.  

By sophomore year, Thompson was a two-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference selection. She played all 40 matches in her first two seasons and had 28 starts. She made five career goals and two career assists, all while holding onto a 4.0 GPA in finance. This earned her a nomination for the UM President’s Award. 

But it was nothing compared to her third season. 

Thompson became one of the most decorated athletes on the Montana Grizzlies by the end of her junior year. A speedy and strong athlete, she garnered a reputation as an uncatchable and unstoppable force. She started all 19 matches and led the team with six goals and four assists.  

In a 4-0 winning match against Miami University RedHawks, Thompson scored two of the goals. She also scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 match against Sacramento State, clinching the Big Sky title.  

The Flathead Valley native was named Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP that year and was a three-time selectee for the Academic All-Big Sky Conference. She was also named second-team Scholar All-American and first-team Scholar All-West Region by the United Soccer Coaches.  

“I poured literally everything I had into it,” Thompson said. “And it got to a point where it was just too much.” 

She mentally juggled the idea of trying out for the pro league. Stopping wasn’t a choice, and she pushed herself in her summer training. 

“I just couldn’t take time off,” Thompson said. “I needed to get better.” 

Strenuous practice put a strain on her body, and she entered her final season nursing an ankle injury. The team changed formation, and Thompson had to adjust to playing in a different position.  

“I honestly just was not playing well,” she said.  

She still managed to play 15 out of 19 matches, starting 10 of the games. She took 32 shots, with 12 put on path to the goal, but scored zero goals. About halfway through the season, her grandfather died.  

The next game after his death, Thomspon’s MCL tore. Montana’s star Grizzly was benched for the rest of the season. She watched from the sidelines as her team ascended on another competitive streak, winning the season without her.  

“In the moment, it was the largest heartbreak I’ve ever felt in my life,” Thompson said.  

Soccer was no longer a source of joy and accomplishment, but stress and humility. She was scheduled for surgery in December, the same month she graduated from college, and knew it was time to hang up her cleats.  

Despite the outpouring of love and support that flooded in from friends and family, she felt isolated in her pain.  

“At the end of the day, no one truly understands what you’re going through, and the emotions you’re feeling, but yourself,” Thompson said.  

But it’s not a tragic end, she said. It was a new beginning.  

Thompson, now 23, works as a financial advisor for Edward Jones, a nationwide investment company. She discovered a love for numbers when she was a business major and switched over to finance. As an advisor, she can help people get the most out of their finances.  

“My calling is to serve others,” she said. “Being a financial advisor is the perfect way for me to do that.” 

Last month, Thompson was listed as part of the University of Montana’s 25 under 25 Alumni – her first accolade since graduation that wasn’t tied to her athletic performance. 

“I was like, ' Whoa, this is really cool,'” she said. “I was chosen to be on a list with these outstanding individuals.” 

The ache of missing soccer will never fade, Thompson admitted. But she now gets to live her dream through the kids she coaches at Missoula Surf Soccer Club.  

“I’ve been taking steps out of Skyleigh the Soccer Player,” she said, “into becoming the version of myself I’m supposed to be.” 

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 406-758-4439 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.