Women's Soccer News: Spotlight on Former U.S. WNT Player and Now Coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen

San Diego’s Women’s Soccer team, the (WPSL) San Diego SeaLions have recently kicked off their 24th season of soccer, the last 14 in the Pac-South division of the 62-team Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). The WPSL currently offers the highest level of women’s soccer in the United States west of the Mississippi River other than the National Team, and the SeaLions are one of the top teams on the West Coast. 

At the helm of the team is San Diego native, and former US Women’s National Team player, Jen Lalor-Nielsen, who in her first season as head coach led the SeaLions to a first place position in the Pac-South division of WPSL, just missing the regional playoffs due to a goal differential tie-breaker. 

Lalor-Nielsen was born in Chula Vista, and started playing soccer at the age of five. Known for her speed and ball control, she earned a full ride to Santa Clara University where she is now a member of the hall of fame. Nielsen played for the US Women's National Team from 1992 to 1995, and has also played professionally in Japan, Denmark and Sweden. She played in the first women’s professional league, Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) for the three years it existed, with the New York Power and San Diego Spirit. 

Most recently, Lalor-Nielsen and husband Bo Nielsen have started a new youth development club, San Diego Football Academy, along with former Del Mar Sharks Director of Coaching Johnson Asiedu. Jen just finished her sixth season as Head Girls Varsity Soccer Coach at Poway High School, and has also just come off of another season as assistant women’s soccer coach at Miramar Community College.

SN:  How did you become involved with the SeaLions? 

Jen Lalor-Nielsen: “I became involved with the SeaLions first as a player and then as a coach.  I played for the SeaLions for 3 years. My first season playing with the team was in 2000. The next year I was drafted to play in the WUSA. Playing for the SeaLions helped me gain exposure at the professional level and I was grateful for the high-level playing experience that the league (WPSL) provided.  I rejoined the team in 2006 and played for two more seasons. Those two years playing for the SeaLions under Head Coach Sean Bowers were the most enjoyable, rewarding seasons of my soccer-playing career. I then retired from playing competitive soccer and was asked to be assistant coach with Sean Bowers for one season. Now I am head coach, in the midst of my second season. I am truly honored and excited to be a part of this program.”

SN: What do you enjoy most about coaching at this level? 

Jen Lalor-Nielsen: “I enjoy coaching at this level and coaching this team. I enjoy the tactical part of the game, motivating the players, and building team chemistry. A big part of being successful at this level is gaining an understanding of the players and building a trust between player and coach. If you are passionate in what you do as a coach and the players see that about you, they will give you 100 percent.”

SN: Do you think it benefits a college player’s career to continue playing with the SeaLions in the off-season?

Jen Lalor-Nielsen: “It definitely benefits college players to play in the summer for us--Without a doubt. It is tough competition and you are playing against other top college players, former professional players and foreign players as well. We provide quality training, fitness, and a place to play and compete at a high level 3 days per week, not including games on the weekend. If you are a serious player that wants to excel in college or take your game to the next level, professional or overseas, the SeaLions will help provide you with that exposure and intense training environment.” 

SN: What kind of chance does a player have of going pro by playing on a team in the WPSL like the SeaLions?

Jen Lalor-Nielsen: “This league provides players with the possibility of playing professionally either here in the United States or abroad. If you are a top player in this league, you will be noticed. It can help provide you with a tryout with a particular team in the WPS especially if your WPSL team does very well in league and/or makes it to the playoffs. Playing with the SeaLions is just another avenue to be seen and noticed by other coaches and it helps you create a name for yourself in this arena.”

SN: The SeaLions have recently started the 2011 WPSL season and are currently 3-0. Are there any spots available for new potential players?

Jen Lalor-Nielsen: “There is always room for a new player to join our team. There are no formal tryouts per se for the SeaLions. I look at players during training and anyone who feels that have what it takes is invited to our training sessions. That is how we pick our top team. It is an extended summer program that gives players a place to train, play and compete. Every year is a new season. I had a player pool of over 50 players last year, but only 18-20 players make the roster for each game. There are always new players coming and going each season, which is why I am always looking for new players to join the team.”

SN: What kinds of things do you look for in an individual player at training? 

Jen Lalor-Nielsen: “I am looking for players with technical skill on the ball and tactical awareness. I am also looking for aggressive players, ball-winners that dominate in the air, and also that special player who truly brings a unique style or what I like to call “spice” to the game. Fitness is extremely important, and being fast/quick on the ball technically and in overall decision-making is key at this level. ”

SN: Do you think the SeaLions have a shot at the WPSL Championship this year?

Jen Lalor-Nielsen: “I absolutely believe we have the talent to win the WPSL Championship this year.  We had a very successful season last year. We finished in a tie for 1st place in our division (Pac-South), missing a trip to the playoffs on goal differential. Had we scored one more goal in any game during the season, we would have made the playoffs. That’s something I plan to avoid this year. I am so excited about the team this year, and I’m confident we will build on our prior success.”

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 The NEW Women's Soccer editorial section is sponsored by the San Diego SeaLions.  We deeply appreciate the SeaLions helping to offset the costs associated with this editorial coverage and want to acknowledge their tremendous support of women's soccer. 

SeaLions one of the oldest female soccer clubs in the USA. The WPSL is a sixty-plus team national women's soccer league with five conferences and is considered one of the top women's soccer leagues in the world. For more information, please email Amie Becker.