January 16, 2009, may have been a typical 24-hour day for most, but for former Lady Vols goalkeeper Jaimel Johnson it felt like an eternity.

On that day, Women’s Professional Soccer held its inaugural draft. Johnson waited at the edge of her seat as 69 players learned their fate before the Boston Breakers chose her with the final pick of day.

“Obviously I was the last pick in the draft.  All day I had been watching the draft, waiting to see what happens,” Johnson explained. “When I saw that I was the 70th pick, I was speechless.”

Johnson, who hails from Dayton, Ohio, made her mark on the record books at the University of Tennessee, where she became the only goalkeeper in the program’s history to be named NSCAA All-American.

Johnson’s biggest setback came in her sophomore season when she broke her collarbone, but even that failed to keep her sidelined for long. She returned to the game after four short weeks to help her team reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.  

According to Tony DiCicco, Boston’s head coach and the former U.S. Women’s National Team coach, Johnson’s dedication to the game foreshadows a promising future.

“She is somebody who isn’t happy watching,” said DiCicco. “She wants to participate. She wants to be a factor in the game. She wants the responsibility of winning and losing, and those are all trademarks of a successful athlete.”

More than just good character, DiCicco explained Johnson’s athleticism and technical skills were what put her in Breakers threads.  

“We can’t make you a special athlete if you are not. She is a special athlete,” DiCicco said. “She doesn’t have any technical weaknesses in the game.”

While she already possesses many qualities of a consummate goalkeeper, DiCicco intends to bring Johnson’s game to an even higher level by helping her improve her positioning, mental toughness and focus. Johnson is looking forward to soaking in all the advice the former goalkeeper and legendary coach has to offer.

“He knows what it’s like to be a goalkeeper,” Johnson said. “I am excited to learn a lot from him and grow as a player.”

However, DiCicco is not the only person that has Johnson shaking in her shin guards in excitement at the thought of playing in Boston.

“I have met Kristine (Lilly) a few times. She and my head coach at Tennessee are really good friends,” Johnson explained. “But to get the opportunity to play with her and train with her is just amazing because I have looked up to her since I was younger, wanting to play professional soccer.”

Ready to live her dream, the 70th pick of the 2009 WPS Draft will soon move to Boston, a city she has yet to visit.  She plans to explore the culture and attend a few Celtics games, as she admits to being a big-time Kevin Garnett fan. Most of all, the 22-year-old, who is motivated by her family, looks forward to serving as a role model and showcasing her talent in her new hometown.

“I have a great work ethic and I am a big team player,” Johnson said. “I just want to go there with the hopes of supporting my teammates and being a great goalkeeper.”

Lauren Brill is a freelance writer and can be reached at Lauren@LaurenBrill.com. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Women’s Professional Soccer or womensprosoccer.com.