Therese Wolden Cooper (2026) - JMU Athletics Hall of Fame

Therese Wolden Cooper

Induction:
2026
Class:
1999

Therese Wolden Cooper was a top offensive weapon for the Dukes during one of the best four-year stretches in program history. Nearly 30 years later, she still ranks third in career goals with 39, tied for third in career points (101) and ninth in career assists (23). She was a two-time All-Region selection (1997, 1998) and a three-time All-CAA honoree, including First Team in 1996 and 1998. She was also selected to the Silver Anniversary Team when JMU women's soccer celebrated its 25-year anniversary in 2014. Wolden's highest point total came as a senior with 32 points on 11 goals and a career-best 10 assists. She also posted 11 goals as a sophomore to go with five assists. As a junior, she tallied nine goals and four assists in a career-best 22 matches. She emerged as freshman with eight goals and four assists. Ultimately, she participated in 82 career matches and recorded seven game-winning goals. As a team, under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Dave Lombardo, the Dukes went 56-29-6 overall in four seasons, including 20-8-3 in CAA games. Her freshman squad won the program's first Colonial Athletic Association title and earned the program's first NCAA bid. That began a streak of five straight NCAA appearances, encompassing all four of Wolden's JMU seasons. The Dukes reached the national round of 16 in both 1995 and 1996 as well as the round of 32 in 1997 and 1998. JMU shared the CAA regular season title in 1996 and was nationally ranked in each of Wolden's four seasons, including the program's best final rank of 14^th in 1996.