BILLINGS, Mont. –Former Montana State University Billings Women's Soccer player Jen Larsen has always been competitive and that trait lead her to one of the most decorated individual careers in MSUB Women's soccer history. Now, her competitive drive has now taken her to the next level as Larsen is playing for the Pro-Amateur Sedona FC Strikers.
The team is based out of Sedona Arizona and is in the W-League which is the middle branch of professional soccer. There are three branches, the first being Women's Premier Soccer League followed by the W-League and then the National Women's Soccer League where you would find stars Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach. Sedona FC faces teams such as the LA Blues, Seattle Sounders and Colorado Storm. There are 25 teams in the league and Sedona FC is in the Western Division.
In seven games played so far this season, Larsen has started every game on defense for Sedona FC and has one goal on three shots on goal.
Larsen helped her team to a 13-6-1 record her senior season and was a member of one of the most successful classes in MSUB history amassing 46 wins over four years.
She had one of the most decorated individual years in program history winning multiple awards. She was named First Team All-GNAC honors, GNAC All-Academic honors and CoSIDA Academic All-District honors, Daktronics All-West Region, 2nd Team Inland Northwest Soccer New Collegiate 2012 Season Best XI Team, and finished with a 3.94 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Health and Human Performance.
Larsen finishes her MSUB career ninth in the all-time scoring leaders list, with 19 goals and six assists for a total of 44 points. Her senior season she scored three goals and one assist, while helping the defense tally 10 shutouts while helping lead the back line to a .805 save percentage, and 70 saves.
"We are very proud and happy for Jen," Head MSUB Women's Soccer Coach
Wojtek Krakowiak said. "I know it was Jen's dream to go and become a professional soccer players after college. It's a great opportunity for Jen to compete against some of the best players in the country. She has a great passion for the game and is a very ambitious person on and off the field. She was a big part of our success here at MSUB. She was an influential member of the 2010 team which made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in our program's history. She was also part of the squad that made it to the GNAC Championship Tournament Final, helping the team achieve the #23 ranking in the country in NSCAA poll. Jen was a great leader and captain on and off the field. She always found a way to motivate and inspire her teammates. She is a fantastic person and we wish her all the best in the future."
James Catlin from MSUB Athletics recently asked Larsen 10 questions about soccer, success and her World Cup prediction.
1. What advice would you give any young soccer player looking to playing in college and beyond? My advice to young soccer players looking to play in college or in another league after college is to work hard NOW. If you think you will do it later, you probably won't. Start NOW and don't give up when it is hard; because it will be hard. If you love soccer, find a way to play; all you need is a ball and a space to play!! Start getting in touch with coaches and get your name out there because it will increase your chances of being noticed!
2. What was one of you favorite memories from your playing time at MSUB? My favorite memory at MSUB was going to the NCAA tournament in 2010, my sophomore year, for the first time in MSUB history. The feeling of beating Cal State LA in the first round is a feeling I will never forget. Going through old videos and pictures of the tournament brings back amazing memories and no one can ever take back a feeling like that!
3. Is there a specific person, or event that influenced your career as a soccer player? My club coach for Mesa Soccer Club, Jim Thames, always believed in me and from an early age, taught me everything I know about soccer! He was one of the hardest coaches I've ever had, and some people didn't like his rough approach to soccer, but I admired him so much and he instilled a huge love for the game! Anyone who has had him as a coach or has him currently are lucky kids.
4. Do you have a favorite quote? "Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." ---Michael Jordan
5. What does success mean to you? Success, to me, is finally achieving something that you have been working on for a long period of time. Nothing in life that is worth anything comes easy; you must work and work and work at it. The greatest athletes have put countless hours into training and have failed numerous times, but keep working until they achieve success! It can be applied to life as well, not just sports.
6. What's next in your career? After this season, I will continue to run, keep in shape and train for another season of soccer. I would love to play in the NWSL, the true professional league and a step higher than I am at right now. There are only 9 teams in that league and it is hard to make it in that league, but with enough determination and hard work, I think it is possible. I may play another summer in the W league and get more experience, but I will try for the NWSL at some point in the future!!
7. What was the biggest obstacle you faced coming through the ranks in high school, college or before? I think my biggest obstacle was the transition into college because the speed of play was faster, the contact was harder and the understanding of the game went to a deeper level. I remember my first college game against University of Missoula. I went to trap the ball and was cleanly run over by another girl. "Welcome to college soccer" I thought. College soccer is a completely different ball game from high school and club, but you catch on after a while!
8. What is a goal you still want to achieve? Either in life or soccer. I would really like to make it to the NWSL and play with the big stars like Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach and Tobin Heath. Even if I don't make the team, I at least want to try and be at the level to compete. In my life after soccer, my goal is to keep soccer in my life through coaching, playing in leagues and being involved in the game in any way I can!
9. What has been your secret to success? Both on the field and off. There really is no secret to success. Success is achieved by being disciplined, hard-working and focused. If you set your mind to something and don't take no for an answer, success will come.
10. Who are you picking to be in the World Cup Final and who will win? Germany. I had originally picked Spain, but they will not even make it out of group play. The Netherlands have a really good chance at going far in the tournament, too! There have been some crazy games in the first round so far so it is hard to say what will happen!
