What started as an ordinary work day for Sarah Jensen on Jan. 23 changed abruptly after she received a phone call from Mo Stroemel, head coach of the U.S. women’s national university hockey team.

Stroemel informed Jensen, a 2007 graduate of Albert Lea High School and alternate for Team USA, that a player had gotten a concussion and that she needed to be in Chicago the next morning in order to catch a flight to Erzurum, Turkey, to play in the 25th Winter World University Games.

Jensen, still wearing an apron in the Einstein Bros. Bagels shop she worked at on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D., was stunned.

“I didn’t know what to think,” Jensen said. “I had school and work and had to think about what I was going to do for two weeks.”

Jensen thought of herself as a longshot to make the team. She was one of two alternates and the other was Kate Christofferson, who played for coach Stroemel at Penn State University, a Division I program in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

“I thought for sure she was ahead of me,” Jensen said. “I thought I would never get a call anyway. For them to pick me over a Division I player was surprising. I was honored they even called.”

Jensen played varisty hockey at ALHS from seventh grade through her senior year, when she was named Big Nine All-Conference.

She then played hockey at SDSU for a Division II ACHA program where she was named All-American honorable mention for the 2008-09 season and All-American last season, when her coach encouraged her to apply for Team USA.

The application cost $150 and did not guarantee a roster spot — in fact far from it. From the pool of applicants only some were chosen to try out for in the team in August 2010 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

“Most of the girls who tried out were Division I players from east coast colleges,” said Jensen, who was unsure if she would make the team.

But she did — only as an alternate.

“I didn’t really worry about it,” Jensen said. “They were basically saying ‘You kind of almost made the team.’”

But after months of being an alternate, Jensen was surprisingly called to duty — less than 24 hours before the team departed for Ezurum.

Jensen said she was nervous when she arrived at the University Games because she had less experience with the team, having missed all practices and scrimmages.

“I started myself out with the wrong mindset,” Jensen said. “I set myself lower than everyone else.”

Jensen participated in seven games with Team USA from Jan. 27 through Feb. 6 and scored a goal when the U.S. beat Great Britian 8-1 on Feb. 2

“I never would have thought I would have scored in international play,” Jensen said. “It was so unbelievable I really can’t describe it.”

Jensen and Team USA came a win away from the podium on Feb. 5 but lost 3-1 to Slovakia in the bronze-medal game.

Jensen said her favorite thing about being in Turkey was the scenery and meeting new people. She also said she learned more about herself as a hockey player.

“I am better than I thought,” Jensen said. “Building confidence goes a long way. When I scored a goal the team doctor asked if I was gaining confidence. I had always thought of myself as just OK.”

Jensen credits her experience in Albert Lea and past coaches for turning her into a well-rounded player.

“It’s neat that I can still connect myself to Albert Lea,” Jensen said. “That town has shaped me to who I am today, and it will always be my home.

“I’m honored to be able to say I played for Team USA, but the majority of my hockey career was playing for Albert Lea so I thank all the coaches who helped me including Todd Gackstetter, Ed Pomerson, Mike Gordon, Scott Adams, Mike Miller, Jason Fornwald, Tom Falk, Steve Falk and SDSU assistant coach Dallas Shearer and head coach Heath Isaacson.”

Fornwald, who was Jensen’s varsity girls’ hockey coach during her sophomore and junior seasons, said he isn’t surpised his former defenseman was chosen for Team USA.

“Her selection for Team USA in the World University Games was certainly unexpected but I wouldn’t say surprising given Sarah’s level of character and determination,” Fornwald said. “Sarah was the kind of hockey player all coaches hope to have on their team.

“She comes from a very supportive, caring and humble family who instilled many positive character attributes in her. Jensen was a workhorse on the blue line for our high school varsity team and during many games she would log ice time over half the game. She led by example by always giving 110 percent.”

Jensen is graduating this spring from SDSU with a degree in consumer affairs. She’s already looking into internships with professional hockey teams and Team USA in community relations.