Lauren Sesselmann

Lauren Marie Sesselmann (born August 14, 1983) is an American-born Canadian soccer defender, former forward and Olympic bronze medalist currently playing for the Santa Clarita Blue Heat. She was also a member of the Canada national team from 2011 to 2015, and is also a trainer, producer and host of the fitness DVD program Fit As A Pro with Lauren Sesselmann.

Lauren Sesselmann
Sesselmann in 2009
Personal information
Full name Lauren Marie Sesselmann
Date of birth (1983-08-14) August 14, 1983
Place of birth Marshfield, Wisconsin, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender, forward
Youth career
1997–2000 Notre Dame Academy
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Purdue Boilermakers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Steel City Sparks 2 (1)
2007–2008 F.C. Indiana 22 (13)
2009 Sky Blue FC 1 (0)
2010–2011 Atlanta Beat 20 (0)
2013 FC Kansas City 19 (0)
2014–2015 Houston Dash 1 (0)
2017– Santa Clarita Blue Heat 23 (1)
National team‡
2011–2015 Canada 46 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of August 12, 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of July 3, 2017

Early life

Sesselmann was raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She starred in both soccer and basketball at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay, winning multiple letters and helping Notre Dame to an undefeated season and a Wisconsin state championship in girls' basketball in 2001.

Purdue University

Sesselmann played collegiately at Purdue University from 2001 through 2005. She set six records for the Boilermakers in points, goals, assists, game-winning goals, multiple-goal games, and shots on goal registered. She was also named First Team All-Big Ten in 2003 and 2005.[2]

Club career

Following her time at Purdue, Sesselmann remained in the area to play for F.C. Indiana, based in Greater Lafayette. She played in both the Women's Premier Soccer League in 2007 and W-League in 2008 with the club. She scored nine goals and four assists in 14 games for the Lionesses in 2008, as they were runners-up in the W-League.

On January 16, 2009, Sesselmann was drafted by Chicago Red Stars with the 44th overall pick in the 2009 WPS Draft. She was waived prior to the season and signed by Sky Blue FC in May 2009.[3] In 2010, Sesselmann attended training camp with Saint Louis Athletica, but was released during camp. She then signed with the Atlanta Beat, where manager Gareth O'Sullivan converted her from forward to defence. Sesselmann debuted with the Atlanta Beat on April 11, 2010 in a match against Philadelphia Independence, earning her first WPS start at left back.

In 2013, she joined FC Kansas City in the new National Women's Soccer League. On January 10, 2014, it was announced that Sesselmann was selected by the Houston Dash with the third pick in the 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft.[4] However, her role with the Dash has been put into question by a statement from her agent stating it is "in her best interest to explore options as a free agent".[5]

Following two years out of the game, Sesselmann joined the Santa Clarita Blue Heat in May 2017.[6]

International career
Sesselmann (far right) with Canada national team at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Sesselmann acquired Canadian citizenship in 2010 through her father, who is from Newfoundland and Labrador, and was called up to the Canada national team for training camp leading up to two friendlies against the United States in September 2011. She won her first cap on September 17, 2011 as a starter at left back against the US, playing the full 90 minutes. She also started the second game on September 23, 2011.

Sesselmann was named to the 18-player Canadian squad for the 2011 Pan American Games at Guadalajara. She started at left back in four of five matches and appeared as a substitute in the other, helping Canada to win the gold medal.[7]

In Canada's run to a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, Sesselmann started all six matches, two at left back and four at centre back.[8][9]

Sesslemann represented Canada in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup. In the quarter final match against England, Sesselmann slipped and fell on the turf which resulted in a goal for England.

Sesslemann was honoured by Canada Soccer in June 2017 along with fellow Olympic Bronze Medalists Jonelle Filigno, Robyn Gayle, Kaylyn Kyle and Josée Bélanger.[10]

References
  1. 2015 World Cup
  2. "Lauren Sesselmann player profile". Purdue University. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  3. "Sesselmann signs with Sky Blue". Our Sports Central. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  4. "Houston Dash select 10 players in 2014 NWSL Expansion Draft". Houston Dash Communications. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  5. Bell, Thad. "Sesselmann's agent responds to her being drafted". Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  6. SC Blue Heat FC [@SCBlueHeat] (May 7, 2017). "We are ready!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. "Lauren Sesselmann player profile". Canada Olympic Committee. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  8. "Sesselmann Helps Team Canada Win Bronze at Olympics". Purdue University. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  9. "Canada makes history with Olympic bronze victory vs. France". National Post. Archived from the original on August 9, 2012. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  10. "Canada Soccer to honour five retiring Women's National team players & Hall of Fame inductee at match in Toronto". June 7, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
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