WNY Flash will become the seventh team in the Women’s Professional Soccer(WPS) League for the 2011 season. The WPS is the highest level of women’s professional soccer in North America and Canada. The team won their first W-League championship in 2010 after an undefeated season under Head Coach Aaran Lines. The Flash Organization has announced moving up to the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) League after gaining approval from the WPS Board of Governors.

About Buffalo Flash
The Buffalo Flash, founded in 2008, is a family-owned professional women’s soccer franchise located in Buffalo, NY. The team won their first W-League championship in 2010 after an undefeated season under Head Coach Aaran Lines. The Flash Organization has announced moving up to the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) League after gaining approval from the WPS Board of Governors.

About WNY Flash
WNY Flash will become the seventh team in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) League for the 2011 season. The WPS is the highest level of women’s professional soccer in North America and Canada.

WNY Flash, owned by Joe Sahlen, will be based at Sahlen Sports Park in Elma,New York. Former New Zealand National player Aaran Lines will serve as HeadCoach.

Flash Facts
• Buffalo Flash won the W-League Championship in 2010, their second season, and finished the season with an undefeated record
• WNY Flash will be the 7th team in the WPS league in 2011
• The WNY Flash team will play its home games at the 14,000-seat Rochester Rhinos Stadium in Rochester, NY

About Joe Sahlen
Joe Sahlen, owner of the WNY Flash women’s professional soccer team, is the fourth generation owner and operator of Sahlen’s - a family owned premium meat distributor and packing company in Buffalo, NY. He also owns Sahlen Sports Park, an indoor sports complex in Elma, NY. Joe Sahlen is also the father of player Alexandra Sahlen and a long time sports car racing enthusiast.

About Sahlen’s
Founded in 1869 in Buffalo, NY, Sahlen Packing Company Inc. is dedicated to providing the freshest and highest quality meat products in Buffalo as well as 15 Northeastern states. Sahlen’s is famous for their premium quality hot dogs, "Old Fashioned" Smokehouse ham and turkey breast, and more.

Sahlen’s meat packing company also sponsors Team Sahlen, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, and GRAND-AM Sahlen’s Paddock Club. Sahlen’s is the Official Hot Dog of the Buffalo Bills.

About Alexandra Sahlen
Alexandra Sahlen was born September 25, 1982 in Buffalo, NY.  Alexandra Sahlen attended Niagara University where she studied business
and played for the Purple Eagles Division 1 women’s soccer team, where she helped lead the team to their first ECAC and MAAC Championship appearances. After college, Sahlen played with the Women’s Premier Soccer League, an independent national league, as well as the W-League in 2005 and the Rochester Rhinos from 2006-2008. In 2009, Sahlen joined the Buffalo Flash and served as team President while continuing her education and is currently in the midst of obtaining her MBA. Sahlen started 13 of 16 games for the Championship winning Buffalo Flash, including the semi-final and final in Santa Clarita, as an outside back.

In addition to playing soccer, Sahlen has coached at all levels, including NCAA Division 1 and youth club level. She has most notably coached
in the NCAA’s and coached the Empire United 91/92s to their first NYSW Championship in 2009.
• Age: 28
• Height: 5’6"
• Nickname: Alex, Al, Allie

About Aaran Lines
Born December 21, 1976, Aaran Lines is a former international soccer player from Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He has made 41 appearances for the New Zealand Full National Squad, including the 1999 and 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. In addition to playing internationally, Lines played professionally for 16 years. Aaran Lines began his career with Werder Bremen, counting games on the youth, reserve and first teams with the storied German club. Lines then played for Ruch Chorzow of the Polish First Division, Dresden of the German Second Bundesliga, the Auckland Football Kingz of the Australian National League (A-league), and VfL Osnabruck of the German Second Bundesliga.

Lines finished his career here in the United States with the Portland Timbers and the Rochester Rhinos, where he led the team to a United Soccer League (USL) Championship game in 2006.  Lines has a UEFA B coaching license and is serving as the Advanced training instructor at Sahlen Sports Park.

Lines was Head Coach for the Buffalo Flash, where he led the team to a W-League Championship in 2010 only a year after gaining his position.  Lines will act as the new Head Coach for WNY Flash, the seventh Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) team in the WPS league.
• Age: 33
• Height: 5’9 1/2"
• Nickname: Kiwi