Windham midfielder Thornton earns All-State girls’ soccer honor

Windham midfielder Abbey Thornton moves past
York defenders during a girls' varsity soccer game
last season. The Maine Soccer Coaches Association
has honored Thornton, a sophomore, with selection
to the Southern Maine All-State Soccer Team for the
2020 season. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

By Ed Pierce

With her sights set on playing college soccer someday, Windham High School’s Abbey Thornton is making a strong case for that goal after being honored with selection to the 2020 Southern Maine All-State Team by the Maine Soccer Coaches Association.

Thornton, a sophomore midfielder, says that she’s humbled by such recognition and wants to be able to continue her love and passion for the game while playing at a high level.  

“I want to make sure that I always enjoy myself and have fun playing soccer,” Thornton said. “It is not about the goals or how well I do, but just simply playing a game that I have loved for so long. Soccer requires me to be all in and give it my all whenever I am on the field. I like how it pushes me both physically and mentally. It allows me to work hard, do something I'm proud of, and hopefully contribute to my team.”

According to Deb LeBel, Windham varsity girls’ soccer coach, Thornton has been a pleasure to see grow and develop.

"Abbey’s a fun player to coach,” LeBel said. “She’s a player that you can challenge in practice and she’ll accept the challenge and work harder to get better.”

LeBel said Thornton is a very likeable and a fun teammate to be around.

“You can often find her joking around with teammates and not taking a grief from the upper classman.  She is well respected for effort and talent that she brings to the game,” LeBel said. “Even though Abbey was our leading scorer this season, she’s extremely unselfish player and routinely sets her teammates up for scoring opportunities.”

Currently taking all honors classes, Thornton had a GPA of 99 after her freshman year and LeBel said
that as a coach she love that Abbey is so talented on the field, but also thinks it’s just as important that she takes her academics seriously. 

“She challenges herself in the classroom and these traits make her an even better athlete,” LeBel said. “Abbey strives to do her best in all aspects of life.”

Her talent and skills on the soccer field are undeniable, but Thornton says she has challenges to overcome.

“For me the hardest aspect of playing the game of soccer is getting in my own head. When I get in my head I tend to overthink and prohibit myself from just playing,” Thornton said. “I make things complicated, doubt myself, and put pressure on myself to do better. I play best when I am 100 percent involved in the game and in the moment. Another aspect that I find very troubling is not disappointing others. Standing on the field, I feel obligated to do good in order to prove that all the money, time, and effort that has been invested in soccer was not just for nothing. I want to make my family, teammates, and everyone in my life proud. I want to validate that I am worth it and have importance on the field which can sometimes feel like a lot.”

Thornton works well for Windham with another sophomore midfielder, Elizabeth Talbot, LeBel said.

“Abbey is extremely versatile and can play in a variety of positions on the field. Abbey and Liz Talbot do an amazing job controlling the midfield, so for now I see them both staying as central mid-fielders.  They both set up teammates during our offensive attack on opponents,” LeBel said. “Abbey was a major contributor even as a freshman.  It’s rare that freshmen make the varsity girls’ soccer program, but Abbey and Liz Talbot both started at center midfielders together as freshmen.  They play so well together and have done a fantastic job controlling the midfield since they stepped onto the field their freshman year.  Abbey also got serious about her fitness this year and came into the season very fit.  This combined with a strong physique doesn’t allow her to get pushed off the ball often.”

Thornton has an amazing soccer IQ and makes things happen seamlessly,” LeBel said.

“Abbey stands out on the soccer field because she has a tremendous shot, but she also knows her role and gets back on defense as well,” she said. “She instinctively makes runs so her teammates can get her the ball offensively. “

Receiving this honor is significant because the 2020 season was one of marked uncertainty for Windham prep athletes.

“Personally, this means a huge amount and I am very grateful to be recognized for the All-State soccer team. In a year as crazy as this one, my main focus was playing my best each and every game because I never knew when it would be my last,” Thornton said. “This recognition gives me a sense of success this year and a sense of accomplishment even though our season was so short. It also means a lot to me because it means people are noticing my hard work and the effort that I put in. Nevertheless, I wouldn't be recognized for this if it wasn't for my amazing teammates, coaches, and family who are always there to push me and allow me to continue to improve my game. I am very grateful for all these people in my life. To be recognized to the All-State soccer team was a feeling like no other and gives me even more drive to be better.” <