Wesleyan University

Eva Bergsten, formerly the head women's soccer coach at the University of Hartford, has been appointed as the faculty head coach of women's soccer at Wesleyan University, athletics director John Biddiscombe announced this week. Bergsten steps in for Holly Wheeler, who coached the team for the last four seasons but will serve as assistant coach for women's soccer in 2004. Wheeler, a faculty coach at the University, remains as head coach of women's lacrosse, directing that team for a fifth year this spring.

Bergsten has been coaching at Hartford for the last six years, her first three as assistant women's soccer coach and the last three as head coach. During her tenure, Hartford has won three American East conference titles and competed in the NCAA Division I championships five times.

An outstanding soccer player both on the national level in her home country of Sweden and as a collegian at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, Bergsten was a National Team player for Sweden from 1989-1991 and a premier league player there from 1986-1992. Attending Franklin Pierce from 1992-1995, Bergsten was a four-time all-New England choice, a three-time All-American and the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year as a freshman. She also was a two-time academic All-American and was a three-year team captain as Franklin Pierce captured NCAA titles in both 1994 and 1995.

In addition to coaching at Hartford, Bergsten coached the U-18 girls premier squad West Hartford United for a year and directed the Lady Hawk Soccer School each of her years at Hartford.

"In searching for a new women's soccer coach, Wesleyan was committed to hiring one of the most capable coaches in the country," stated Biddiscombe. "We have met that objective and are extremely pleased that Eva Bergsten, who has a tremendous national reputation as an outstanding coach, will be joining our staff."

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