Sara Whalen
(Courtesy of New York Power) |
| Position: Defender/Midfielder |
| Era: 1997-2000 |
| DOB: 1976.04.28 |
| Height: 5'6" |
| Hometown: Greenlawn, N.Y. |
| College: University of Connecticut |
|
| Career Statistics |
| Year |
GP/GS |
Min |
G |
A |
Pts |
Y/R |
W-L-D |
| 1997 |
7/6 |
532 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/0 |
6-1-0 |
| 1998 |
17/0 |
460 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
0/0 |
16-1-0 |
| 1999 |
18/8 |
1046 |
2 |
3 |
7 |
0/0 |
15-1-2 |
| 2000 |
23/7 |
926 |
4 |
6 |
14 |
1/0 |
17-3-3 |
| Total |
65/21 |
2964 |
7 |
10 |
24 |
1/0 |
54-6-5 |
National Team Highlights
Opted not to play for the National Team following the 2000 season.
A member of the 2000 Olympic team, she did not see any game action in Sydney.
Saw action as a reserve at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. Came in off the bench against Nigeria and in the Final against China and started and played the entire game against North Korea.
Trained with the National Team in 1995 and 1996.
National Team Milestones
Professional Highlights
Started 10 games for the Power in 2002 and recorded an assist before tearing her right ACL and MCL in a game against the Carolina Courage on June 26. The graft used to replace her ACL became infected and had to be removed. Without an ACL in her right knee, she did not return to play in the WUSA.
Played in all 21 regular-season games in 2001, starting 20, and tallied five assists. Also started the Power's 2001 semifinal against the Bay Area CyberRays.
A WUSA founding player, she was allocated to the New York Power.
Collegiate Highlights
Played for the University of Connecticut from 1994-1997.
Named to Soccer America's Team of the Decade for the 1990s.
Started every game during her collegiate career and holds the UConn record for games played (99).
Scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over unbeaten Notre Dame in the 1997 NCAA semifinals.
Named the 1997 NSCAA Player of the Year and a First-Team NSCAA All-American in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Also won the 1998 Honda Award for soccer and was UConn's 1997 Athlete of the Year.
Played sweeper her first three years before playing in the midfield and at forward as a senior. Scored 21 goals with 22 assists in 1997.
Named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996. Also earned First-Team All-Big East honors in 1995-1997.
UConn retired her #8 jersey upon the completion of her career.
Last We Heard
Now Sara Hess, married to Jon, a NASDAQ trader and former Princeton lacrosse player.
Supervises the research database at SUNY Optometry.
Ran the 2004 New York Marathon in 4:19:38.
