Sara Whalen
Encyclopedia
Sara Whalen Hess was born on April 28, 1976, in Natick, Massachusetts
. Whalen played for the United States Women's National Soccer Team
from 1997 to 2000, and was a founding player of WUSA
.
in Greenlawn, New York
. There she played varsity soccer, basketball, and track (as a sprinter). After high school, Whalen went to The University of Connecticut, where she was a defender and forward for their women's soccer team. While playing soccer for Connecticut, Whalen was a three-time All-American and was the 1997 NSCAA Division 1 National Player of the Year as well as being named to Soccer America's Collegiate Team of the Decade for the 1990s. Whalen scored both goals in the 1997 NCAA Final Four semifinal match against Notre Dame, as Connecticut won 2–1 to record one of the biggest upsets in NCAA women's soccer history by defeating the previously unbeaten Irish. Whalen was the 1995 and 1996 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, before playing striker her senior season where she recorded 21 goals and 22 assists to lead her team in scoring.
In 1997, Whalen began her career for the US Women's National Soccer Team as an outside defender. She earned her first cap against France, while still in college. The following year, 1998, Whalen had a very successful season scoring two goals and garnering three assists. In 1999, Whalen helped the US Women's National Team win the Women's World Cup, playing every minute of extra-time in the final against China. Whalen was pictured on the cover of Time Magazine hugging Brandi Chastain
. The following year, Whalen won a silver medal as a part of the US Women's team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In 2001, Whalen began to play for the New York Power
, a team in the Women's United Soccer Association
, playing alongside USA teammates Christie Pearce and Tiffeny Milbrett. On June 26, 2002, in a game against the Carolina Courage
, Whalen tore her ACL and MCL after a collision with German international Birgit Prinz
. This occurred just after recovering from a broken rib. Whalen had surgery, but noticed her knee was infected shortly thereafter. During her second surgery Whalen had a severe allergic reaction, nearly dying. The doctors realized that the infection was in one of the screws, within the ligament of her knee, which had to be removed. Whalen had to go through five surgeries, including moving ligaments from her right to left knee, to repair her injury. This marked the end of Whalen's professional soccer career.
, Nowadays Whalen supervises the research database at SUNY Optometry in midtown Manhattan, and lives in the West Village with her husband, Jon Hess
, a Nasdaq
trader and former Princeton University
lacrosse player. In 2004 she ran the New York Marathon in 4 hours 19 minutes 38 seconds—remarkable considering her physical condition.
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
. Whalen played for the United States Women's National Soccer Team
United States women's national soccer team
The United States women's national soccer team represents the United States in international soccer competition and is controlled by U.S. Soccer. The U.S. team won the first ever Women's World Cup in 1991, and has since been a superpower in women's soccer. It is currently ranked first in the world...
from 1997 to 2000, and was a founding player of WUSA
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
.
Soccer career
Whalen attended Harborfields High SchoolHarborfields High School
Harborfields High School is a four year secondary school located in Greenlawn, New York. It functions as the high school for Harborfields Central School District, which serves the communities of Centerport and Greenlawn and parts of Huntington, Huntington Bay and Northport...
in Greenlawn, New York
Greenlawn, New York
Greenlawn is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 13,286 at the 2000 census. Students primarily attend the Harborfields Central School District...
. There she played varsity soccer, basketball, and track (as a sprinter). After high school, Whalen went to The University of Connecticut, where she was a defender and forward for their women's soccer team. While playing soccer for Connecticut, Whalen was a three-time All-American and was the 1997 NSCAA Division 1 National Player of the Year as well as being named to Soccer America's Collegiate Team of the Decade for the 1990s. Whalen scored both goals in the 1997 NCAA Final Four semifinal match against Notre Dame, as Connecticut won 2–1 to record one of the biggest upsets in NCAA women's soccer history by defeating the previously unbeaten Irish. Whalen was the 1995 and 1996 Big East Defensive Player of the Year, before playing striker her senior season where she recorded 21 goals and 22 assists to lead her team in scoring.
In 1997, Whalen began her career for the US Women's National Soccer Team as an outside defender. She earned her first cap against France, while still in college. The following year, 1998, Whalen had a very successful season scoring two goals and garnering three assists. In 1999, Whalen helped the US Women's National Team win the Women's World Cup, playing every minute of extra-time in the final against China. Whalen was pictured on the cover of Time Magazine hugging Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain
Brandi Denise Chastain is a professional American soccer defender and midfielder who plays for the team California Storm of Women's Premier Soccer League and is a former member of the United States women's national soccer team....
. The following year, Whalen won a silver medal as a part of the US Women's team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
In 2001, Whalen began to play for the New York Power
New York Power
The New York Power was a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, New York. The team began play in 2001...
, a team in the Women's United Soccer Association
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
, playing alongside USA teammates Christie Pearce and Tiffeny Milbrett. On June 26, 2002, in a game against the Carolina Courage
Carolina Courage
Carolina Courage were a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Fetzer Field on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus in 2001, and then at the soccer-specific SAS Stadium in Cary, North Carolina in 2002 and 2003. The team began play in 2001; the...
, Whalen tore her ACL and MCL after a collision with German international Birgit Prinz
Birgit Prinz
Birgit Prinz is a former German female professional association football player. She last played for 1. FFC Frankfurt and the German national team. Prinz is one of the game's most prolific strikers and the FIFA Women's World Cup all-time leading scorer with 14 goals . She has been named FIFA...
. This occurred just after recovering from a broken rib. Whalen had surgery, but noticed her knee was infected shortly thereafter. During her second surgery Whalen had a severe allergic reaction, nearly dying. The doctors realized that the infection was in one of the screws, within the ligament of her knee, which had to be removed. Whalen had to go through five surgeries, including moving ligaments from her right to left knee, to repair her injury. This marked the end of Whalen's professional soccer career.
Personal life
Whalen, who is Jewish, graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in psychology. She received her masters degree in psychology from Fordham UniversityFordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, Nowadays Whalen supervises the research database at SUNY Optometry in midtown Manhattan, and lives in the West Village with her husband, Jon Hess
Jon Hess (lacrosse)
Jonathan A. "Jon" Hess is a retired lacrosse attackman who played professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League and professional field lacrosse in Major League Lacrosse...
, a Nasdaq
NASDAQ
The NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
trader and former Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
lacrosse player. In 2004 she ran the New York Marathon in 4 hours 19 minutes 38 seconds—remarkable considering her physical condition.
See also
- List of select Jewish football (association; soccer) players