Lauren Sesselmann
Encyclopedia
Lauren Marie Sesselmann (born 14 August 1983 in Stevens Point
, Wisconsin
) is an American
-born Canadian
-international soccer defender
and former forward playing for Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer
.
, 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.
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.
, 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 16 January 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.
In 2010, Sesselmann attended training camp with Saint Louis Athletica, but was released during camp. She then signed with Atlanta Beat, where manager Gareth O'Sullivan converted her from forward to defence.
Sesselmann debuted with Atlanta Beat 11 April 2010 against Philadelphia Independence, earning her first WPS start at left back.
in September 2011. She won her first cap September 17, 2011 as a starter at left back against the United States and playing the full 90 minutes. She also started the second friendly against the United States September 23, 2011.
Sesselmann was named to the 18-player squad competing for Canada in the women's football tournament
at the 2011 Pan American Games
in Guadalajara
. She started at left back in four of five matches and appeared as a substitute in the other, helping Canada to the gold medal.
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point is the county seat of Portage County, Wisconsin, United States. Located in the central part of the state, it is the largest city in the county, with a population of 24,551 at the 2000 census...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
-international soccer defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and former forward playing for Atlanta Beat of Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
.
Early life and career
Sesselmann was raised in Green BayGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. She starred in both soccer and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at Notre Dame Academy
Notre Dame Academy (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
Notre Dame de la Baie Academy is a co-educational Roman Catholic high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The name is French for "Our Lady of the Bay"...
in Green Bay, winning multiple letters and helping Notre Dame to an undefeated season and a Wisconsin state championship
Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association is the regulatory body for all high school sports in Wisconsin. Its history dates to 1895, making it the first high school athletic organization in the country...
in girls' basketball in 2001.
College career
Sesselmann played collegiately at Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
from 2001 through 2005. She set six records for the Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers
Boilermakers is the official nickname for the intercollegiate athletic teams of Purdue University. As is common with athletic nicknames, it is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large....
in points, goals, assists, game-winning goals, multiple-goal games, and shots on goal registered. She was also named First Team All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
in 2003 and 2005.
Club career
Following her time at Purdue, Sesselmann remained in the area to play for F.C. IndianaF.C. Indiana (W-League)
F.C. Indiana is an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2000. The team is a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League....
, based in Greater Lafayette
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
. She played in both the Women's Premier Soccer League
Women's Premier Soccer League
The Women's Premier Soccer League is a national women's soccer league in the United States and Puerto Rico, and is on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the W-League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
in 2007 and W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
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 16 January 2009, Sesselmann was drafted by Chicago Red Stars
Chicago Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are a American professional soccer club that is based in the Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois that participates in the Women's Premier Soccer League. From 2009-2010, the Red Stars played their home games at Toyota Park in the Womens Professional Soccer...
with the 44th overall pick in the 2009 WPS Draft
2009 WPS Draft
The 2009 WPS College Draft took place on January 16, 2009. It was the first college draft held by Women's Professional Soccer to assign the WPS rights of college players to the American-based teams.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:-Round 5:...
. She was waived prior to the season and signed by Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC is an American professional soccer club based in Piscataway Township, New Jersey which participates in Women's Professional Soccer....
in May 2009.
In 2010, Sesselmann attended training camp with Saint Louis Athletica, but was released during camp. She then signed with Atlanta Beat, where manager Gareth O'Sullivan converted her from forward to defence.
Sesselmann debuted with Atlanta Beat 11 April 2010 against Philadelphia Independence, earning her first WPS start at left back.
International career
Sesselmann acquired Canadian citizenship in 2010 through her father, and was called up to the Canadian national team for training camp leading up to two friendlies against the United StatesUnited 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...
in September 2011. She won her first cap September 17, 2011 as a starter at left back against the United States and playing the full 90 minutes. She also started the second friendly against the United States September 23, 2011.
Sesselmann was named to the 18-player squad competing for Canada in the women's football tournament
Football at the 2011 Pan American Games – Women's tournament
-Group B:--------------------*A drawing of lots was used to separate Canada and Brazil after they were tied on every tiebreaker. Brazil won the draw.-Knockout Stage:-Semifinals:-----Bronze Medal Match:-Gold medal match:...
at the 2011 Pan American Games
2011 Pan American Games
The 2011 Pan American Games, officially the XVI Pan American Games, was an international multi-sport event that was held from October 14–30, 2011 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Some events were held in the nearby cities of Ciudad Guzmán, Puerto Vallarta, Lagos de Moreno and Tapalpa...
in Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
. She started at left back in four of five matches and appeared as a substitute in the other, helping Canada to the gold medal.