I had great experiences as a four-year letterman on the St. Olaf soccer team, but what I remember most is the quirky way I scored my first goal as a freshman. We drove the team vans to Macalester College only to discover that they had driven to our campus. (Our coach had erred). So we turned around and returned to play the match. We won the game 1-0, and I scored the goal in a most unusual fashion. I ran past the defense to collect a long pass and the ball hit me in the face as I approached the goal. The keeper came out of the goal and we collided. I sprung to my feet and passed the ball into the vacated net. Certainly not artistic, but quite memorable!

I enjoyed playing with several exchange students from Norway, many of whom I befriended because I wanted to learn about their culture. Fast-forward 15 years in the future, and I played on an international team in Atlanta. We had players from Bosnia, Russia, Brazil, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and England — but, alas, none from Norway. I enjoyed learning about their backgrounds. Playing for St. Olaf deepened my love for the game, which I continued to play until age 50. That experience, coupled with a great education, provided me with a wonderful foundation for my professional career.