VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Photo Credit: UConn Athletics

Soccer
Shelburne
Inducted 2012

A three-time Vermont state high school player of the year, Jen Carlson went on to star at NCAA powerhouse Connecticut and played at the highest professional level in the U.S.

Carlson helped lead Champlain Valley Union High to a pair of 18-0-0 unbeaten state championship teams, as a junior and senior in 1995 and 1996, the first back-to-back unbeaten and untied seasons in Vermont Division I girl's high school soccer history. She was the three-time state player of the year (1994, 95, 96) and in each of the three seasons, she was named to the NSCAA High School All-American Team.

She headed to UConn and scored 24 goals as freshman in 1997, in helping the Huskies to the NCAA title game. The 24 goals were then a school single-season record and still remains tied for first. Her 59 points in 1997 remain third all-time at UConn. After her rookie year she was named to the All-Big East first team and was an honorable mention All-American by Soccer Buzz. She also was selected to the Soccer Buzz and Soccer America All-Freshman Team.

Carlson played forward as a freshman before moving to attacking midfield her next three seasons. She twice led UConn in assists with 13 in both 1999 and 2000. Her Huskies teams her last three seasons captured a share of the Big East regular season crown and reached the national quarterfinals, 'Elite Eight'. In all four of Carlson's seasons UConn made it to the Big East title game. 

Prior to Carlson's senior campaign, the Huskies traveled to Greece and captured a top amateur tournament, the AEGEAN Olympus Cup.

She finished her four-year career at Connecticut second all-time in goals (53), assists (47) and points (153), and remains the all-time leader in games played (103). After her senior season ended, Carlson was one of 28 players in NCAA Division I history to record at least 40 goals and 40 assists in her career.

Carlson was again named to the Big East All-Conference First Team in 1999 and 2000 and was named to NSCAA All-Northeast region team and NEWISA All-New England in 1997, 1999 and 2000. 

She was a winner of the UConn Club Outstanding Senior Athlete Award at graduation in 2001. She went on to play for the Long Island Lady Riders in the United Soccer League and was named to the All-USL First Team in 2001.