Leslie Gaston

Position:
Defender
Height:
5-5
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Montogomery, Ala.

General
Fifth-year senior and three-year letter winner...has persevered through 11 different knee surgeries during her soccer career...came back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury which kept her out of the lineup in 1998 and had a productive red-shirt freshman year in 1999...became an even better player in the year 2000 when she started at the playmaking center midfield position...started last year as the Tar Heels’ left side defender and will start again there this season. ODP Soccer Experience
Named to 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998 Regional ODP Team...was pulled up to under 19 regional ODP team in 1998...in 1997 she was named to the Under-17 National team pool...in 1998 she was asked to play on and made the under-18 national team but could not due to ACL problems in both knees...played on boys competitive teams up until 1994...from 1994 to spring 1997 she played with the Briarwood Lady Lightning...since fall 1997 she has played with the Tophat Soccer Club in Atlanta...that club won the state championship in 1997, the WAGS Premier Cup championship in 1997, the Junior Orange Bowl championship in 1998 and the Region 3 championship in 1998.

2001 Season
Played in all 25 games for the Tar Heels last season, starting every one at the left back position...scored three goals and had two assists n the season...scored the game-winning goal in matches against Charlotte and UAB...also scored a goal in a regular-season win over Penn State...had assists against Missouri and in the regular season game against Wake Forest...was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week on September 10, 2001 after being named the Most Valuable Player of the Carolina Nike Classic when her defensive play at center back led the Tar Heels to two successive shutout wins...Gaston subbed at center back that weekend while Catherine Reddick played with the U.S. National Team...against Penn State, she marked National Player of the Year Christie Welsh and limited her to one shot on goal...was also named to Soccer America’s National Team of the Week on September 11, 2001...named to the 2001-02 ACC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.46 GPA.

2000 Season
Really came into her own as a sophomore for the Tar Heels...shared time with Maggie Tomecka at the starting defensive midfielder position...played in all 24 games for the Tar Heels and earned 12 starting assignments...had four goals on 18 shots...also added one assist for a total of nine points...she recorded the assist in the season opener at Texas...scored her goals against Virginia (9/1), South Carolina (9/8) and Oregon (9/10)...added the fourth goal in Carolina’s NCAA Tournament second round win over Wake Forest.

1999 Season
Fought through another injury-marred season to make a major contribution for the Tar Heels in a reserve role...earned her only start of the season in Carolina’s win over Southern Cal but suffered a torn MCL in that game that caused her to miss several games at mid-season...appeared in 17 games...scored goals against Florida State and Wake Forest during regular-season matches and assisted on a goal against Clemson in the NCAA quarterfinals.

Prep
A June 1, 1998 alumna of Saint James High School...played for boys varsity soccer team in 1995 as team captain and All-City selection...tore her left ACL in fall of 1995...came back in spring of 1996 to run track...she was a state finalist in the 4x100 and finished fifth in 100 meter dash and the 200 meter dash...won the 1996 Rehab Associates award for the comeback of the year after her ACL injury...in the spring of 1997 she played boys varsity soccer and ran track...was a state medalist in the long jump, finishing third and a finalist in the 100 meter dash, finishing sixth...a 1997 Parade and NSCAA All-America in soccer...was named to the 1998 Girls All-State Soccer Team...was varsity captain of girls soccer team in spring 1998...was named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students...active in the Habitat for Humanity program...active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Community Volunteer Corps...member of Key Club and National Honor Society...awarded Stanley Frazier Scholarship for academics and athletics...helped with Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.

Personal
Given name is Leslie Anne Gaston...has one brother and two sisters...was born August 9, 1980 in Montgomery, Ala....is the daughter of Eddie and Sally Gaston...athletes she most admires is Lance Armstrong...hobbies include hiking, canoeing and camping...biggest sports thrill has been winning two national championships as a Tar Heel...majors in communications...undecided on her career plans.