Mark Rosenberg is a forward/midfielder for the second seeded Grinnell Pioneers. Their first round match up is against the St. Norbert Green Knights at 1:00pm on Friday November 6th.
Kim Deal
- Coming into the year, what did you think your team was capable of doing? Are you happy with how it has progressed to this point?
Mark Rosenberg - Coming into this year I knew that this team was capable of competing with the very best DIII soccer had to offer. We've done just that, losing a couple close games to regionally and nationally ranked opponents. I'm happy with how we've progressed, but none of us is satisfied with our season as it stands, and we know we have to play well through the tournament to really do what we wanted to do this year.
KD - What has been the highest point in your season? The lowest?
MR - The lowest point of the season was the overtime loss to Carroll. We'd played pretty well in the first half, but struggled in the second, and to lose in overtime after having tied it up when we weren't playing nearly our best soccer was a hard blow to take. I refuse to name a high-point, because I'm sure it hasn't come yet.
KD - Your team has one of the best defenses in the league, giving up a little over a goal per game. How important is this going into the conference tournament?
MR - Our defense is incredibly important, we have a few incredible goalies, and our back-line has been our foundation ever since I've been at Grinnell, but one of the reasons we can focus so much on our defense is beacuse of the senior leadership we've gotten up top with Andrew Stephenson and Justin Koester, both of whom have been goal-scoring machines. Our defense has been incredible, and I think when it comes to the tournament, a strong defense is a major key to success.
KD - What is a little known fact about Grinnell's 2009 squad?
MR - I think people don't know that this year's team has tons of depth. We have a lot of seniors, but when we've had injuries or when we bring on our subs, we've done an incredible job of not losing a step.
KD - Who would you say your biggest rival is?
MR - I don't know who our biggest rival is, we obviously look forward to playing St. Norbert and Carroll, but I don't really get wrapped up in rivalries.
KD - When you played St. Norbert this season, you beat them 3-1 on their field. What do you think of them being your first round match up?
MR - I'm excited to play St. Norbert in the first round. We lost to them last year in the regular season on our field and then beat them in the tournament, and with a very talented senior class like they have, we have no doubts about St. Norbert's ability, but we also know that we can play with them and beat them in important games, and I think this year is going to be another hard-fought battle.
KD- You are currently 4th in the league in assists per game and 7th in shots per game. Where do you attribute your success in the attack?
MR - I wouldn't call my season particularly successful in the attack, but I've definitely been serviceable because of Stephenson and Justin Koester. The first few games of the year we were out of sorts, but since we all found our roles and learned a little more how to play together, we've become a formidable attack. It's my first year ever playing out wide, and the second season I've ever been up top and not in the midfield, but the system we play gives me a little freedom to be creative, and our coaching staff has done a great job working with me so I understand the position more.
KD - What teammate do you have the best feel for on the playing field?
MR - I play the best with Stephenson and Justin, those two have been working with me all year, and we've gotten quite a bit of on-field chemistry at this point. It's a lot of fun playing soccer with those guys.
KD - Do you have a prediction for this weekend?
MR - I don't major in predictions. If I didn't think we were going to win the tournament I wouldn't show up to play, but I'll leave the 'Us 6 Them 0' predictions to the rest of the guys on this website.