ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Alex Jackson (Centennial, Colo.) will begin a preseason training stint with the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) this Thursday at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Following a standout four-year career with the Navy women's soccer team, Jackson will be training with the Spirit with her eye on obtaining a spot on the team's 2020 regular season roster. The Spirit's 2020 NWSL season begins on Saturday, April 18 at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

"I am extremely excited to be given the opportunity to continue to train at the highest level with the best players this sport has to offer, while doing something I love," remarked Jackson. "Looking back at my four years of preparation with Navy Women's Soccer and the leadership of the Naval Academy, I feel confident in this next chapter of my career. "

The 2018 and 2019 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Jackson played in and started all 85 games from 2016 through 2019 as the Mids' center defensive back. Rarely coming off the field, Jackson saw 7,624 minutes of action during her four years, second only to Shelly Moeller's program-record 7,626 minutes from 2006 through 2009. Offensively, she netted 10 goals and five assists during her time with the Mids. With Jackson on the field, Navy's defense posted 39 shutouts and a four-year record of 52-24-9, while reaching the Patriot League Tournament every season and earning the league's regular season title in 2017 and 2019.

Navy went 16-3-3 this past season, winning its first Patriot League Championship and berth into the NCAA Tournament since 2007. The Mids went 6-1-2 during Patriot League conference play to finish atop the league standings. As a unit, the Mids' defense shut out their opposition 13 times over 22 games and allowed just two goals in nine Patriot League regular season contests. Nationally, Navy's 0.523 goal against average was 13th-lowest in the NCAA DI ranks. In addition to her Patriot League accolades from 2019, Jackson was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team in recognition of her standout performance on defense for Navy.