University of Minnesota Athletics
Clark Records Assist in First WPS Start
7/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Former University of Minnesota soccer player Jennie Clark recently made her first career start with Sky Blue FC of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), in which she tallied an assist in a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Independence on Wednesday.
With the score knotted at 1-1, Clark dribbled to the left flank and serviced a nice cross to fellow first-time starter Alyssa Mautz, who headed home the ball to give their squad a 2-1 lead in the 30th minute. Clark is the first Golden Gopher to notch a point in the WPS, which is widely considered the top women's professional soccer league in the world.
The connection from Clark to Mautz has a bit of history that dates back to the 2010 season where Mautz was a midfielder for Texas A&M, whom the Gophers defeated 2-0 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
During her time at Minnesota, Clark was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree and helped the Gophers reach the Sweet 16 twice (2008 and 2010). The Norwalk, Iowa native started 76 matches for the Golden Gophers and served as a staple in head coach Mikki Denney Wright's defense.
Clark signed as a free agent with Sky Blue FC back in April, joining former teammate Katie Bethke, who plays for the Atlanta Beat, as the first two Gophers to acquire WPS contracts.
