Alexandra Sahlen
{{Short description|American soccer player and entrepreneur}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Alexandra Sahlen
| image = 2013-07-04 Redstars v Flash AlexSahlen.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Sahlen in starting lineup of Western New York Flash vs Chicago Red Stars match on July 4, 2013
| fullname = Alexandra Elizabeth Sahlen{{cite magazine |title=Candidates for Degrees – The College of Business Administration: Bachelor of Science (Commerce) |magazine=Undergraduate Commencement |publisher=Niagara University |page=4 |date=May 16, 2004}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|9|25}}
| birth_place = Williamsville, New York, U.S.
| height = {{convert|1.64|m|0|abbr=on}}
| position = Defender
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| collegeyears1 = 2000–2003
| college1 = Niagara Purple Eagles
| collegecaps1 =
| collegegoals1 =
| years1 = 2005–2008
| clubs1 = Rochester Ravens
| caps1 = 33
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2009–2010
| clubs2 = Buffalo Flash
| caps2 = 22
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2011–2013
| clubs3 = Western New York Flash
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 0
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 =
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| pcupdate =
| ntupdate = April 14, 2013
}}
Alexandra Elizabeth Sahlen (born September 25, 1982) is an American former professional soccer player and entrepreneur. She played for the Western New York Flash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and was also the club's president.{{cite web |title=Letter from the president: WNY's Alex Sahlen checks in |date=February 16, 2013 |url=http://equalizersoccer.com/2013/02/16/letter-from-the-president-wnys-alex-sahlen-checks-in/ |publisher=Equalizer Soccer |accessdate=July 19, 2013}}
Early life
Sahlen was born and raised in Williamsville, New York, a small suburb of Buffalo.{{cite web |title=ALEX SAHLEN RETURNS TO THE FLASH |url=http://www.wnyflash.com/?template=template&form_id=5489&page=news.cfm |publisher=Western New York Flash |accessdate=July 19, 2013 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093308/http://www.wnyflash.com/?template=template&form_id=5489&page=news.cfm |url-status=dead }}
=Niagara University=
Sahlen attended Niagara University from 2000 to 2003 where she played for the Purple Eagles. She started 55 matches and completed her collegiate career with six goals and 10 assists, ranking 20th on the school's all-time scoring list. Sahlen helped guide the Purple Eagles to their first MAAC Championship appearance in 2003.
Playing career
=Club=
==Rochester Ravens==
Sahlen played with W-League club Rochester Ravens from 2005 until 2008, when a stress fracture in the first game of the season ruled her out of contention.{{cite news |url=http://theracesite.com/index.cfm?template=magazine&mag_id=15788 |title=Sahlen's Buffalo Flash join W-League in 2009 |work=TheRaceSite.com |accessdate=2011-07-09}}
==Western New York Flash==
Along with husband Aaran Lines, Sahlen then founded a new professional W-League club, Buffalo Flash, in time for the 2009 season.{{cite news |url=http://www.allwhitekit.com/?p=5361 |title=An Interview With WNY Flash Head Coach Aaran Lines |work=All White Kit |author=Jenna Pel |accessdate=2011-07-09 |date=2011-03-24}} Sahlen played for the Flash as they won the 2010 W-League championship and remained on the playing roster when the team changed its name to Western New York Flash and entered Women's Professional Soccer, claiming the 2011 WPS Championship.{{cite web |title=Sahlen fights for women's soccer league |date=December 2011 |url=http://niagara-gazette.com/sports/x1760886101/Sahlen-fights-for-women-s-soccer-league/print |publisher=Niagara Gazette |accessdate=July 19, 2013}}{{cite web |title=Family ties don't stop the Flash's Alex Sahlen from doing a great job |url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20130702/SPORTS05/307020064/Alex-Sahlen-Western-New-York-Flash |publisher=Democrat and Chronicle |accessdate=July 19, 2013}}
Sahlen missed the 2014 NWSL season due to being pregnant{{cite web |title=Western New York Flash defender Alex Sahlen to miss 2014 season due to pregnancy |url=http://www.soccerwire.com/notes/western-new-york-flash-defender-alex-sahlen-to-miss-2014-season-due-to-pregnancy/ |publisher=Soccer Wire |date=February 19, 2014 |access-date=November 21, 2015 |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121185646/http://www.soccerwire.com/notes/western-new-york-flash-defender-alex-sahlen-to-miss-2014-season-due-to-pregnancy/ |url-status=dead }} and was not on the Flash roster for the 2015 season.{{cite web |title=2015 WNY Flash Roster |publisher=Western New York Flash |url=http://wnyflash.com/club/roster |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308141336/http://wnyflash.com/club/roster |archivedate=March 8, 2015}}
Coaching career
Sahlen was assistant coach for the women's soccer team at her alma mater, Niagara University from 2004 to 2011.{{cite web |title=Former NU Stars Share Spotlight With World's Best |date=June 24, 2011 |url=http://www.purpleeagles.com/news/2011/6/24/13131.aspx |publisher=Niagara University |accessdate=July 19, 2013}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [http://www.wnyflash.com/?template=template&form_id=52&page=roster.cfm Western New York Flash player profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095343/http://www.wnyflash.com/?template=template&form_id=52&page=roster.cfm |date=March 4, 2016 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120107102111/http://www.womensprosoccer.com/wny/players/bios/alexandra-sahlen WPS player profile]
- [http://www.allwhitekit.com/?p=5014 All White Kit: An Interview with WNY Flash Team President Alex Sahlen]
- {{Twitter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sahlen, Alexandra}}
Category:American women's soccer players
Category:21st-century American sportswomen
Category:National Women's Soccer League players
Category:Niagara Purple Eagles women's soccer players
Category:Sportspeople from Williamsville, New York
Category:Soccer players from New York (state)
Category:Western New York Flash players
Category:Women's association football defenders