Jen Mead

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jen Mead

| image =

| caption =

| height = {{Height|ft=5|in=10}}

| full_name = Jennifer Kim Mead{{cite web |url=http://www.wusa.com/players/mea148317.html |title=Jennifer Mead |work=Women's United Soccer Association |year=2001 |access-date=June 21, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011007091314/http://www.wusa.com/players/mea148317.html |archive-date=October 7, 2001}}

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|6|13}}

| birth_place = Norwood, Massachusetts, U.S.

| position = Goalkeeper

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1990

| youthclubs1 = Bridgewater-Raynham Trojans

| collegeyears1 = 1991–1993

| college1 = Providence Friars

| collegecaps1 =

| collegegoals1 =

| collegeyears2 = 1994

| college2 = George Mason Patriots

| collegecaps2 =

| collegegoals2 =

| years1 = 1996–1998

| clubs1 = Boston Renegades

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2001

| clubs2 = Bay Area CyberRays

| caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = United States U17

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| nationalyears2 = 1993–1997

| nationalteam2 = United States

| nationalcaps2 = 6

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| manageryears1 =

| managerclubs1 = Colorado College Tigers (assistant)

| manageryears2 =

| managerclubs2 = Rutgers Scarlet Knights (assistant)

| manageryears3 = 1997–199?

| managerclubs3 = Newton North Tigers

| manageryears4 = 2000

| managerclubs4 = Louisville Cardinals (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2001

| managerclubs5 = Boston College Eagles (assistant)

| manageryears6 =

| managerclubs6 = Walpole Rebels

}}

Jennifer Kim Mead (born June 13, 1972) is an American former soccer player who played as a goalkeeper, making six appearances for the United States women's national team. She also played basketball during her collegiate career.

Soccer career

Mead played for the Bridgewater-Raynham Trojans soccer team in high school, where she was a league MVP and named to the All-New England and All-State selections. In college, she played for the Providence Friars from 1991 to 1993, having not participated in her freshman season as she was preoccupied with basketball, the main focus of her athletic scholarship to attend the school. She helped the team win the 1993 Big East championship, where she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. She was named in the All-New England selection while playing for the Friars, and was a second-team All-American.{{cite news |last=Harber |first=Paul |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/440188391/ |title=Two-sport all-star comes back from heart surgery |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=South 13 |date=December 20, 1992 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828164858/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/440188391/ |archive-date=August 28, 2019}} While at Providence, she also set a school record for fewest goals allowed in a season (12) in 1991.{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/friars.com/documents/2018/8/29/2018_WSOC_Media_Guide.pdf |title=2018 Providence Friars Women's Soccer |publisher=Providence Friars |format=PDF |year=2018 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828165117/https://s3.amazonaws.com/friars.com/documents/2018/8/29/2018_WSOC_Media_Guide.pdf |archive-date=August 28, 2019}}

In 1993, Mead was awarded the Honda Inspiration Award, which is given to a collegiate athlete "who has overcome hardship and was able to return to play at the collegiate level". She overcame a heart issue requiring open-heart surgery, and rebounded to become an All-American soccer player.{{cite news |last=Ambrose |first=Annica |url=https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3235&context=cowl |title=Up Close: With Jen Mead – Friar Goalie Headed to Olympic Games |newspaper=The Cowl |volume=58 |number=26 |page=23 |format=PDF |date=May 5, 1994 |access-date=March 28, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621211632/https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3235&context=cowl |archive-date=June 21, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/about |title=Awards Overview: The Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program |work=Collegiate Women Sports Awards |access-date=March 28, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523203714/https://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/about |archive-date=May 23, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/inspiration/index |title=Past Inspiration Award Winners |work=Collegiate Women Sports Awards |access-date=March 28, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624193657/https://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/archives/inspiration/index |archive-date=June 24, 2019}}

After graduating from Providence, she went to play for the George Mason Patriots during the 1994 season. That season she was a Soccer America First-Team All-American,{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_soccer_RB/2019/Awards.pdf |title=Women's Soccer Awards |website=National Collegiate Athletic Association |format=PDF |year=2019 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827130936/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_soccer_RB/2019/Awards.pdf |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} an All-Region selection, was named the ISAA Goalkeeper of the Year, and was included in the All-CAA selection. With her season at George Mason, she set a school record for the best save percentage (.904) in a career or a season, the fewest goals against average (0.54) in a career or a season, and the most shutouts (10) in a season.{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/georgemason.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/8/12/2019_WSOC_Information_Guide.pdf |title=George Mason 2019 Women's Soccer Information Guide |website=George Mason Patriots |format=PDF |date=July 17, 2019 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822085223/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/georgemason.sidearmsports.com/documents/2019/8/12/2019_WSOC_Information_Guide.pdf |archive-date=August 22, 2019}}

Mead appeared for U.S. under-17 national team.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/439394332/ |title=The 1989 Bost Globe All-Scholastic girls' soccer team |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=40 |date=December 19, 1989 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828165330/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/439394332/ |archive-date=August 28, 2019}} She made her international debut for the United States on June 21, 1993, in a friendly match against Canada. In total, she made six appearances for the U.S., earning her final cap on December 13, 1997, in a friendly match against Brazil.{{cite web |url=https://d1dhn91mufybwl.cloudfront.net/downloads/pdfs/fdxnf1dwi/fdxnf1dwi_print.pdf |title=2019 U.S. Women's National Team Media Guide |website=United States Soccer Federation |format=PDF |year=2019 |access-date=August 18, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808074101/https://d1dhn91mufybwl.cloudfront.net/downloads/pdfs/fdxnf1dwi/fdxnf1dwi_print.pdf |archive-date=August 8, 2019}}

In club soccer, Mead played for the Boston Renegades.{{cite news |last=Bickelhaupt |first=Susan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/442181989/ |title=Walsh won't hold grudge |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=G7 |date=August 25, 2001 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828165523/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/442181989/ |archive-date=August 28, 2019}} In 2001, she joined the Bay Area CyberRays for the inaugural WUSA season, though a knee injury only allowed her to make one appearance during the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/10863/wusa-notes-chastain-suspended-fawcett-has-anothe.html |title=WUSA Notes: Chastain suspended, Fawcett has another girl |website=Soccer America |date=June 5, 2001 |access-date=August 27, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827132041/https://www.socceramerica.com/publications/article/10863/wusa-notes-chastain-suspended-fawcett-has-anothe.html |archive-date=August 27, 2019}} She retired from her playing career at the end of the season.{{cite news |last=Chapin |first=Dwight |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SOCCER-Quakes-CyberRays-say-goodbye-to-players-2852979.php |title=Quakes, CyberRays say goodbye to players |website=San Francisco Chronicle |date=November 23, 2001 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828165656/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SOCCER-Quakes-CyberRays-say-goodbye-to-players-2852979.php |archive-date=August 28, 2019}}

Mead later began coaching, working as an assistant for the Colorado College Tigers, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Louisville Cardinals,{{cite news |url=https://gocards.com/news/2001/2/22/women_s_soccer_assistant_mead_to_pursue_professional_career.aspx |title=Women's Soccer Assistant Mead To Pursue Professional Career |website=Louisville Cardinals |date=February 22, 2001 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828165820/https://gocards.com/news/2001/2/22/women_s_soccer_assistant_mead_to_pursue_professional_career.aspx |archive-date=August 28, 2019}} and Boston College Eagles. She also worked as the head coach of the Newton North Tigers and Walpole Rebels high school girls' teams.

Basketball career

Mead played as a center in basketball.{{cite news |last=McCorry |first=Steve |url=https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3161&context=cowl |title=Women's Basketball: Lady Friars Ready to Run and Gun |newspaper=The Cowl |volume=56 |number=11 |page=5 |format=PDF |date=December 10, 1991 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621211842/https://digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3161&context=cowl |archive-date=June 21, 2020}} She played for the Bridgewater-Raynham Trojans in high school, with The Boston Globe selecting her as one of the top twelve high school basketball players as a junior. As a senior she helped the school win the state championship, and was named in the All-Scholastic team and the State Basketball Player of the Year by The Boston Globe. In college, she played for the Providence Friars from 1990 to 1993. She was included in the Big East All-Freshman Team in 1991.{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/friars.com/documents/2018/12/7/2018_19_WBB_History_Section_Guide.pdf |title=Providence College Friars 2018–19 Women's Basketball History, Records & Awards |publisher=Providence Friars |format=PDF |year=2018 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828170040/https://s3.amazonaws.com/friars.com/documents/2018/12/7/2018_19_WBB_History_Section_Guide.pdf |archive-date=August 28, 2019}}

=Career statistics=

== College ==

| style="text-align:left;" | 1990–91

| style="text-align:left;" | Providence

|32||-||-||44.6||0.0||60.6||5.8||1.3||0.9||0.1||-||9.3

| style="text-align:left;" | 1991–92

| style="text-align:left;" | Providence

|12||-||-||54.0||0.0||74.2||8.9||2.3||1.5||0.3||-||19.7

| style="text-align:left;" | 1992–93

| style="text-align:left;" | Providence

|28||-||-||38.8||30.0||54.7||7.4||1.6||1.1||0.2||-||10.1

| style="text-align:left;" | 1993–94

| style="text-align:left;" | Providence

|2||-||-||47.4||0.0||75.0||6.5||0.5||1.5||0.5||-||12.0

| style="text-align:center;" colspan=2 | Career

|74||-||-||44.5||26.3||63.4||7.0||1.5||1.1||0.2||-||11.4

|- class="sortbottom"

|style="text-align:center;" colspan="14"|Statistics retrieved from Sports-Reference.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/Jen-Mead-1.html|title=Jen Mead College Stats|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=July 7, 2024}}

Personal life

Mead was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, but grew up in Raynham. She attended Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, where she also played softball. She graduated from Providence College.{{cite news |last=Harber |first=Paul |location=Raynham, Massachusetts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/441986360/ |title=Pro soccer keeps Jen Mead in the game |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=South 25 |date=May 31, 1998 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828170252/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/441986360/ |archive-date=August 28, 2019}} Mead received a master's degree in exercise science from Springfield College, where she also taught and later earned a doctorate.{{cite news |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20090904/NEWS/309049820 |title=Mead steps in as WHS girls' soccer coach |website=Wicked Local |date=September 4, 2009 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828170419/https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20090904/NEWS/309049820 |archive-date=August 28, 2019}} She currently works as an associate professor at Bridgewater State University.{{cite web |url=http://www.newagenda-northeast.org/member/profiles/profile-jennifer-mead-ma-2017.html |title=Profile: Jennifer Mead, Massachusetts – 2017 |website=New Agenda: Northeast |year=2017 |access-date=August 28, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828170610/http://www.newagenda-northeast.org/member/profiles/profile-jennifer-mead-ma-2017.html |archive-date=August 28, 2019}} She resides in Fairhaven with her wife and two children.{{cite web |url=https://www.bsuatp.com/about3 |title=Athletic Training Program: Faculty |work=Bridgewater State University |access-date=June 21, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621213832/https://www.bsuatp.com/about3 |archive-date=June 21, 2020}}