News

Jade Montgomery signs professional contract

Date Posted: 6/16/2015

Kokkola, Finland----Wingate University three-time All-American Jade Montgomery (Monroe, N.C.) has signed a pro contract to play with Kokkola Futis 10, a professional soccer team in the Finnish women's premier division Naisten Liiga. The team was established in 2010. Montgomery graduated from Wingate in May of 2015.

"Ever since I was little it was always a dream of mine to play soccer at the professional level," Montgomery says. "When I received this opportunity I was over the moon! I have to thank God first for giving me the talent and ability to play. Also, none of this could have happened without all the help and support from my family, previous coaches and my teammates, who have all pushed me to become a better player and person on and off the field!"

One of the most decorated players in the history of Wingate or SAC athletics, Montgomery earned first team All-American honors from the NSCAA in 2014, while earning third team accolades from Daktronics. Montgomery's first time earning first team All-American honors came in 2012, when she led the nation in goals and was named a Daktronics first team All-American, the first player in program history to ever earn first team All-American distinction. She garnered second team Daktronics All-American accolades in her junior season, while earning third team All-American honors from the NSCAA. That made her the first player in Wingate WSOC history to earn All-American honors back-to-back years and to earn multiple All-American honors the same season.

"Jade will do a great job with Kokkola F10," Wingate head coach Chip Wiggins says. "The opportunity for her to continue to play professionally is a unique one. Jade is more than prepared for this experience and we all wish her nothing but the best!"

Montgomery was named the Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year in 2014. She also earned the honor in 2013. She is the first player in program history to ever earn Region Player of the Year honors. Montgomery earned SAC Player of the Year honors for the third consecutive year in 2014. She is the only soccer student-athlete in league history to win Player of the Year honors three times in a career. Montgomery is also the two-time SAC Female Athlete of the Year. She is only the fourth student-athlete to win that honor multiple times in a career, while becoming just the second athlete to win the honor in back-to-back years.

"Playing soccer the past four years at Wingate has been an amazing experience!" Montgomery says. "All the championships we've won and the record-breaking seasons we've had, I knew I wasn't ready for my playing days to be over. Although I am really excited to start this new chapter of my life, it will also have a few challenges for me. Playing with new teammates, having a new coaching style to get used to and moving so far from home won't be easy. I am just really thankful to have this opportunity to continue my career. I'm sure it'll be a great experience; it will be a challenging one, but one that I'm really looking forward to."

Montgomery was an All-SAC and All-Region selection all four years of her Wingate career. She led the conference in goals and points each of the last three seasons. Montgomery helped lead the Bulldogs great success since her arrival. Wingate had never earned an NCAA Tournament bid before 2011. The Bulldogs made an NCAA Tournament appearance all four years of Montgomery's career, winning their first-ever regional title in 2013. Wingate played in the SAC title game all four years of her career, winning the SAC Tournament championship in 2011, 2013 and 2014. The Bulldogs compiled a 59-13-14 record in Montgomery's four-year career. Montgomery finished her career with 66 goals and 25 points, ranking fourth on the league's all-time charts in goals and points (157). Montgomery had 19 career multi-goal games and five hat tricks.