Soren Johnson '03
Wildcats Forever: Soren Johnson
6/10/2011 9:59:52 AM | Men's Soccer
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With 10 seasons in the history books for Davidson men's soccer head coach Matt Spear, DavidsonWildcats.com got in touch with a senior from each of his 10 teams to discuss their memories of Davidson and see where they are now.
Starting with 2001 and concluding with 2010, DavidsonWildcats.com will post a Q & A with an alumnus every Friday. This week's feature is Soren Johnson.
No goalkeeper has seen more action between the pipes in a Davidson uniform than Soren Johnson (1999-2002), a three-time All-Southern Conference honoree, and the Wildcats all-time career leader in minutes (6242:21) and games (75 appearances, all starts). Johnson shares the team's career shutout record of 20 with Alex Deegan after blanking opponents seven times during his senior campaign, and his 1.50 career goals against average ranks seventh-best in team history. Johnson was also successful in the classroom, becoming the third Davidson men's soccer player to be named an Academic All-American, and played professionally.
Q: Why and how did you choose Davidson?
A: Charlie Slagle convinced me to visit. I was skeptical. I returned from my visit thrilled about joining the knuckleheads on the team, the beautiful campus, and the great academic reputation.
Q: What were your favorite memories from your Davidson Soccer days?
A: Beating UNC in Chapel Hill in 2002. The many, many road trips with teammates, and especially the team trip to Brazil. A few key saves that were in the "best save of my life" category. Playing pickup in the off-season with my teammates and friends. Beating Clemson and South Carolina on the road in the same week freshman year.
Q: What were your favorite memories off the field?
A: Living with the Kilburn twins and Erik Ozimek off campus. Hitting Hussein Nasreddin with a water balloon launcher from 3rd Sentelle, which caused him to yell "Oh, [expletive]!" just as President Vagt walked by. Dinnertime in Vail Commons.
Q: What was your major and how did the academic and athletic experience help you moving forward?
A: I worked with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies to create my own major, loosely organized around neuroscience. The challenge of the courses at Davidson prepared me well for medical school as I learned to become very efficient with coursework. I was able to perform independent, original research as an undergraduate that gave me basic skills I needed for graduate scientific research. But I matured immensely on the soccer team. There I learned much about myself as a teammate, as a leader, and as a person dealing with all the highs and lows of success and failure that are inevitable in soccer.
Q: Where are you now, and what are you doing now?
A: I'm in my sixth year of a combined seven-year MD/PhD program at UNC.
Q: What are some tips you would have for current recruits considering Davidson?
A: Definitely come for a visit. My high school had more students than Davidson and I thought it would feel too small and limiting in many ways. But I felt anything but limited at Davidson. If you're up for a serious challenge in the classroom and in soccer, it may be the place for you.
Q: What advice would you pass along to current Davidson players?
A: Stay on top of your academics from day one in the fall semester, because you don't want to be fatigued on the field when October rolls around. Devote regular time to self-analysis; you'll improve faster and you may fill needed roles on the team if you think about your game and what the team needs. In college and beyond everyone is technically sound, everyone is athletic - success is more and more determined by mental factors (analysis, focus, etc.).
Q: What do you miss the most now from playing soccer at Davidson?
A: I miss the daily routine of grinding through classes and having the daily reward of practice or a game. It was a simple life, with really only three things most days: school, soccer, and fun.
Q: How often have you been able to return to Davidson to catch a game?
A: I've seen about one game per season since graduation, but not necessarily at Davidson. It's always fun to return, especially now that the team has its own stadium.
Q: How big of an adjustment was it to play for Coach Spear for the final half of your Davidson career?
A: It was an adjustment, but I think it went very smoothly, especially since he knew the team members before taking the reigns. The biggest change was altering the tenor of the program from more of a family atmosphere to more of a professional, business-like atmosphere.
Q: Did he make any funny “rookie” mistakes as a new head coach?
A: One word: "Sartorio." Ha! Ha! David is great and provided tons of fun.
With 10 seasons in the history books for Davidson men's soccer head coach Matt Spear, DavidsonWildcats.com got in touch with a senior from each of his 10 teams to discuss their memories of Davidson and see where they are now.
Starting with 2001 and concluding with 2010, DavidsonWildcats.com will post a Q & A with an alumnus every Friday. This week's feature is Soren Johnson.
No goalkeeper has seen more action between the pipes in a Davidson uniform than Soren Johnson (1999-2002), a three-time All-Southern Conference honoree, and the Wildcats all-time career leader in minutes (6242:21) and games (75 appearances, all starts). Johnson shares the team's career shutout record of 20 with Alex Deegan after blanking opponents seven times during his senior campaign, and his 1.50 career goals against average ranks seventh-best in team history. Johnson was also successful in the classroom, becoming the third Davidson men's soccer player to be named an Academic All-American, and played professionally.
Q: Why and how did you choose Davidson?
A: Charlie Slagle convinced me to visit. I was skeptical. I returned from my visit thrilled about joining the knuckleheads on the team, the beautiful campus, and the great academic reputation.
Q: What were your favorite memories from your Davidson Soccer days?
A: Beating UNC in Chapel Hill in 2002. The many, many road trips with teammates, and especially the team trip to Brazil. A few key saves that were in the "best save of my life" category. Playing pickup in the off-season with my teammates and friends. Beating Clemson and South Carolina on the road in the same week freshman year.
Q: What were your favorite memories off the field?
A: Living with the Kilburn twins and Erik Ozimek off campus. Hitting Hussein Nasreddin with a water balloon launcher from 3rd Sentelle, which caused him to yell "Oh, [expletive]!" just as President Vagt walked by. Dinnertime in Vail Commons.
Q: What was your major and how did the academic and athletic experience help you moving forward?
A: I worked with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies to create my own major, loosely organized around neuroscience. The challenge of the courses at Davidson prepared me well for medical school as I learned to become very efficient with coursework. I was able to perform independent, original research as an undergraduate that gave me basic skills I needed for graduate scientific research. But I matured immensely on the soccer team. There I learned much about myself as a teammate, as a leader, and as a person dealing with all the highs and lows of success and failure that are inevitable in soccer.
Q: Where are you now, and what are you doing now?
A: I'm in my sixth year of a combined seven-year MD/PhD program at UNC.
Q: What are some tips you would have for current recruits considering Davidson?
A: Definitely come for a visit. My high school had more students than Davidson and I thought it would feel too small and limiting in many ways. But I felt anything but limited at Davidson. If you're up for a serious challenge in the classroom and in soccer, it may be the place for you.
Q: What advice would you pass along to current Davidson players?
A: Stay on top of your academics from day one in the fall semester, because you don't want to be fatigued on the field when October rolls around. Devote regular time to self-analysis; you'll improve faster and you may fill needed roles on the team if you think about your game and what the team needs. In college and beyond everyone is technically sound, everyone is athletic - success is more and more determined by mental factors (analysis, focus, etc.).
Q: What do you miss the most now from playing soccer at Davidson?
A: I miss the daily routine of grinding through classes and having the daily reward of practice or a game. It was a simple life, with really only three things most days: school, soccer, and fun.
Q: How often have you been able to return to Davidson to catch a game?
A: I've seen about one game per season since graduation, but not necessarily at Davidson. It's always fun to return, especially now that the team has its own stadium.
Q: How big of an adjustment was it to play for Coach Spear for the final half of your Davidson career?
A: It was an adjustment, but I think it went very smoothly, especially since he knew the team members before taking the reigns. The biggest change was altering the tenor of the program from more of a family atmosphere to more of a professional, business-like atmosphere.
Q: Did he make any funny “rookie” mistakes as a new head coach?
A: One word: "Sartorio." Ha! Ha! David is great and provided tons of fun.
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