Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons in the Pros
4/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeWSoccer)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - With the professional regular season in full swing, three former Demon Deacons are currently in action professionally.
Katie Stengel, Aubrey Bledsoe and Sarah Teegarden will all play professionally this season. Stengel and Bledsoe will compete in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) while Teegarden will make her professional debut in the Damallsvenskan (Swedish Women's Premier Division).
The Orlando Pride secured their first-ever NWSL playoff birth with a 0-0 draw against Portland on Sept. 23. The squad will face either the Portland Thorns or NC Courage on October 8. The Pride currently sit fourth in the NWSL standings with a 10-6-7 record while the Breakers are ninth at 5-14-4.
Aubrey Bledose and the Orlando Pride played to a 1-1 draw against Seattle on Sept. 7 while the Breakers fell to Portland, 1-0. The Boston Breakers then defeated the Washington Spirit on Sept. 23, 3-0.
Katie Stengel and Aubrey Bledsoe faced off Sept. 2 as the Boston Breakers took on the Orlando Pride. The Pride took a 4-2 victory in the contest, their fifth straight win. The Pride sit fourth in the NWSL standings with a 10-6-6 record while the Breakers are 10th with a 3-12-7 mark.
The Pride defeated FC Kansas City Aug. 26, 2-1, extending its winning streak to four games. The win keeps Aubrey Bledsoe and squad in playoff position as they sit fourth in the NWSL standings with a 9-6-5 record. Meanwhile, the Boston Breakers fell to Sky Blue FC, 1-0, on Aug. 26. Katie Stengel made the start and played 77 minutes, recording one shot on goal. The Breakers sit ninth in the NWSL standings with a 3-10-7 mark.
On Aug. 19, the Orlando Pride and Boston Breakers faced off in Orlando, with the Pride earning the 2-1 victory. Katie Stengel started for the Breakers while Aubrey Bledsoe was an unused sub for the Pride. The Pride remain in playoff contention at the No. 4 spot in the NWSL standings with an 8-6-5 record while the Breakers are ninth with a 3-9-7 mark.
The Boston Breakers faced the Houston Dash on Aug. 16, dropping the contest 3-1. Katie Stengel subbed in for the Breakers in the 67th minute.
Orlando worked its way into a playoff spot with its 5-0 victory over New Jersey on Aug. 12. The squad sits fourth in the league with a 7-6-5 record. Meanwhile, the Boston Breakers fought for a draw with the Washington Spirit on Aug. 12, 2-2. Katie Stengel made her third start fo the breakers, who sit ninth in the NWSL standings with a 3-7-7 record.
The Orlando Pride defeated the Washington Spirit, 3-0, on Aug. 8, extending its home unbeaten streak to three games. Aubrey Bledsoe got the win, bringing her record to 5-3-3 in goal, while the Pride sit fifth at 6-6-5 in the NWSL standings, just one point out of the fourth and final playoff position.
On August 5, the Orlando Pride finished in a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Red Stars. Once again, Aubrey Bledsoe made the start in goal, bringing her season record to 4-3-3. The Boston Breakers also finished in a 2-2 draw on August 4 against FC Kansas City. Katie Stengel made her second start for the Breakers. After 16 weeks, the Orlando Pride move up to sixth in the NWSL standings with a 5-6-5 record while the Boston Breakers remain in the eight spot with a 3-7-6 record.
The NWSL was in a bye week the final week of July due to the Tournament of Nations. Aubrey Bledsoe and the Orlando Pride remain in seventh in the NWSL standings with a 5-6-4 record while Katie Stengel and the Boston Breakers sit eighth at 3-7-5.
Katie Stengel earned her first start with the Boston Breakers against the Houston Dash on July 22. The Breakers fell to the Dash, 1-0, and remain eighth in the standings with a 3-7-5 record. The Orlando Pride fell to the top-ranked Chicago Red Stars, 2-1, in week 15. Aubrey Bledsoe earned the start again, bringing her record to 4-3-2 in goal for the Pride. The squad fell to seventh in the NWSL standings with a 5-6-4 record.
Aubrey Bledsoe got the start in a 4-1 victory over FC Kansas City on July 16. The Orlando Pride set a home goalscoring record in the victory. Bledsoe picked up her fourth win of the season and recorded three saves. Katie Stengel and the Boston Breakers managed to draw with the Seattle Reign FC, 1-1. Stengel subbed in for Natasha Dowie in the 80th minute to finish out the match. After 14 weeks, the Pride remain in sixth place in the NWSL standings with a 5-5-4 record while the Breakers are in eighth with a 3-6-5 record.
The Boston Breakers finished in a 0-0 draw with the Chicago Red Stars on July 7. Katie Stengel made her first appearance with the squad as she subbed in towards the end of the match. The Orlando Pride also finished in a 2-2 draw with the Washington Spirit on July 8. Aubrey Bledsoe got the start for the Pride, bringing her total to seven games played, seven starts and 630 minutes in goal. After weekend play, the Pride remain in sixth in the NWSL standings with a 4-5-4 record while the Breakers are in ninth at 3-6-4.
On June 30, the Boston Breakers claimed Katie Stengel off waivers after her June 28 release from the Washington Spirit. The Breakers then went on to defeat the Spirit 1-0 on July 1. Meanwhile, after a lengthy rain delay, Aubrey Bledsoe and the Orlando Pride fell 1-0 to the Chicago Red Stars. After 12 weeks of NWSL competition, the Orlando Pride jump to sixth in the standings wiht a 4-5-3 record while the Boston Breakers sit ninth with a 3-6-3 mark.
The Pride rallied to defeat Sky Blue FC 3-2 on June 28 to move to a 4-4-3 record. Aubrey Bledsoe got the start once again for the squad.
Ten weeks into the NWSL season, the Orlando Pride are in seventh in the standings with a 3-4-3 record while the Washington Spirit are close behind in eighth with a 3-5-2 mark. This past weekend, the Spirit took a 1-0 decision oand Thorns FC in a match where Katie Stengel was not available. The Pride fell to the Houver Portlston Dash, 2-0, to split the series. Aubrey Bledsoe made her fourth consecutive start in the contest.
After the FIFA International break, week nine of the NWSL season concluded on June 17. The Orlando Pride picked up its first road win of the season with a 4-2 victory over the Houston Dash while the Washington Spirit finished in a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Red Stars. Aubrey Bledsoe recorded her third consecutive and fourth career start in the Pride's victory while Katie Stengel was an unused sub for the Spirit's match. The Orlando Pride made a jump to sixth in the NWSL standings with a 3-3-3 record while the Spirit move up to eighth in the standings and a 2-5-2 record.
Week eight of the NWSL season came to a close on June 3. Aubrey Bledsoe made her second consecutive and third career start for the Orlando Pride. The Pride earned a 2-0 victory over the Boston Breakers, giving Bledsoe her first career shutout. Orlando is now seventh in the league with their 2-3-3 record. The Washington Spirit picked up a 2-0 win over the Houston Dash to move to 2-5-1 on the season. Stengel was an unused sub for the contest. The Spirit currently sit in ninth place in the league with a 2-5-1 record. The league is now on the FIFA international break and will resume play on June 17.
On May 27, Stengel made her first appearance with the Washington Spirit since week two when she was injured against the Orlando Pride. The Spirit fell 3-2 on the road against the top-ranked defensive side in the National Women's Soccer League, FC Kansas City. The Orlando Pride also dropped the decision on May 27 with a 2-1 match against Sky Blue FC. Aubrey Bledsoe made her first start of the season and second career start in the contest. After seven weeks of competition, the Pride move up to eighth with a record of 1-3-3 while the Spirit remain in 10th with a 1-5-1 record.
The NWSL wrapped up week six May 20. The Washington Spirit fell to FC Kansas City 1-0 while the Orlando Pride finished in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Reign. After six weeks of competition, the Pride remain in ninth with six points and a 1-2-3 record and the Spirit remain in 10th with four points and a 1-4-1 record.
May 13 marked the end of NWSL week five. Aubrey Bledsoe's Orlando Pride recorded a huge victory over the previously unbeaten NC Courage, 3-1. The victory is the first of the season for the Pride. The win also marks the first time this season a team scored multiple goals against North Carolina. Stengel, though not available for the contest, and the Washington Spirit fell to Seattle Reign FC 6-2. After week five competition, the Pride sit in ninth with a 1-2-2 record and five points while the Spirit are in 10th with a 1-3-1 record and four points.
Week four of the NWSL regular season wrapped up on May 6. The Washington Spirit picked up its first win of the season with a 4-3 victory over Sky Blue FC. Stengel was not available for the contest. The Orlando Pride forced a 1-1 draw with FCKC. Bledsoe was an unused sub for the Pride. The Spirit are now seventh in the NWSL with a 1-2-1 record while the Pride are still looking for their first win of the season and sit at a 0-2-2 record.
Week three of the NWSL regular season came to a close on April 29. Stengel and the Washington Spirit fell to the Houston Dash, 1-0, on April 29. Stengel did not play due to injury. Bledsoe and the Orlando Pride fell to the league-leading NC Courage, 3-1. Bledsoe was an unused sub in the contest.
Stengel and Bledsoe faced off against each other in week two on Saturday, April 22 in Orlando. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Both squads have a 0-2-1 record so far this season.
Sarah Teegarden recorded her first professional goal in a 2-2 draw with Pitea on May 14. Down 2-0, Teegarden found the net in the 69' to cut Pitea's lead in half. Her teammate then tied the contest just three minutes later to finish the game in a draw. Most recently, Teegarden and squad fell to Limhamn Bunkeflo, 5-2. The team currently sits 12th in the Damallsvenskan standings with an 2-6-3 record and have a break in play until August 18.
In the first match back after the break, Goteborg defeated Pitea, 1-0. Teegarden continues to make starts for the squad, bringing her to 16 starts and 1421 minutes. The team sits 11th in the Damallsvenskan standings with a 3-9-4 record.
Katie Stengel - Boston Breakers (NWSL)
Position: Forward
Hometown: Melbourne, FL
Age: 25 (02/29/1992)
Height: 5'9
Last Club: FC Bayern Munich
Stengel joined the Washington Spirit prior to the 2016 season after leading FC Bayern Munich to the Frauen-Bundesliga title in 2015. Last season, she played in 19 regular season matches, starting in 10 of those. She scored four goals, tied for second most on the team, and played in both post-season matches.
In 2017 preseason play, she recorded one goal and one assist in a preseason 3-0 victory over Penn State, one goal in a 5-0 victory over North Carolina and two goals and an assist in a 4-3 victory over Duke.
The Spirit opened the regular season against the North Carolina Courage. Stengel nearly had the equalizing goal but Washington dropped the decision 1-0. Stengel was injured in the 1-1 draw against the Orlando Pride and did not play in weeks three through six. Stengel finally returned to action in a 3-2 loss to FC Kansas City on May 27 where she led the Spirit with 90% passing accuracy on 20 attempts.
On June 28, the Washington Spirit waived Stengel. However, she was quickly picked up by the Boston Breakers on June 30 and made her first appearance as a Breaker on July 7.
On July 22, Stengel earned her first start with the Boston Breakers in a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dash. She nearly had the equalizing goal in the 27th minute but the pass just missed. She made her second start with the Breakers in the 2-2 draw with FC Kansas City on August 4 and third in a 2-2 draw with the Washington Spirit on Aug. 12.
Aubrey Bledsoe - Orlando Pride (NWSL)
Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Age: 25 (11/20/1991)
Height: 5'9
Last Club: Sky Blue FC
Bledsoe was signed via discovery by Sky Blue FC in 2015 where she appeared in one match. She then went on loan with Danish club Fortuna Hjorring during the offseason before being selected by Orlando with the No. 10 pick in the 2015 NWSL Expansion Draft. In 2016, she made her first career start for the Orlando Pride at FC Kansas City where she totaled three saves. Unfortunately, she suffered a season-ending injury in June.
Bledsoe recorded her first career shutout on June 3 against the Houston Dash. The match was also her second consecutive and third career start. Bledsoe then recorded the NWSL Save of the Week in the 4-2 victory over the Houston Dash on June 17, in the 2-2 draw with the Washington Spirit on July 8 and in the 4-1 victory over FC Kansas City on July 17. Bledsoe was instrumental in the 101 draw with the second-place Chicago Red Stars on August 5. She now has a 5-3-3 record while in goal for the Pride.
Bledsoe made her first start of the season in a 2-1 loss to Sky Blue FC on May 27, week seven. With Ashlyn Harris out with a quadriceps injury, Bledsoe earned her second career start and a start against her former team. Bledsoe made a series of saves in the 26th minute, stopping back-to-back corner kick chances from the Sky Blue offense. She finished the match with six saves.
Sarah Teegarden - Kopparbergs Goteberg FC (Damallsvenskan)
Position: Midfielder
Hometown: Monrovia, CA
Age: 22 (4/21/1995)
Height: 5'7
Last Club: N/A
A four-year starter at Wake Forest, Sarah Teegarden began her professional career in the Damallsvenskan (Women's Premier Division), the top pro league in Sweden, with Kopparbergs Goteborg FC.
Teegarden recorded her first goal of the season in a 2-2 draw with Pitea on May 14. She has recorded 16 starts and 1421 minutes of play this season while tallying one goal. She has played all 90 minutes in 15 of her 16 appearances, including the last 12 consecutive matches.
