Interview with St. Norbert's Ben Vanden Avond

1.) Who would you say your biggest rival is in the Midwest Conference? Is there any one player you look forward to playing against on that team?

Carroll. They have been our best competition every year I have been at SNC. I look forward to playing all the guys that were on my summer team, Andy, Craig, Marc, Stas.


2.) With the Carroll game looming after your Elmhurst match, is your team looking past Elmhurst, what is your major focus right now?

There is no way we are overlooking the Elmhurst match, they are far too good of a team to try and think ahead and believe you can stay with them.


3.) With Carroll having lost one of their best forwards in Marc Hietpas, do you feel you have gained an advantage and are looking to exploit that area?

Marc sucks... jk He is a nightmare to play against. His work ethic is second to none. Him and Andy make a great attacking pair and I think without him it makes things more difficult for his team as a whole. I don't think you can really exploit missing a forward.


4.) What major injuries has your team sustained over the course of the 09 season?

Our two biggest injuries came in the defense. Our sweeper Ryan Doucette tore his hamstring in the Lake Forest game and missed several games but now is back and leading the defense. Our second injury happened in the first game of the year, our outside left back, Kevin Jones was slid from behind on a dirty tackle and has been fighting the sprain all year.


5.) During your practices leading up to big games, does your team change how they play or do you try to make your competition change to your style of play?

Our team hasn't varied from practice to practice much but I do feel in the last few weeks our intensity as a whole has improved as well as our play on the field.


6.) What players on your team do you have the most rapport with?

I am very close with most of my team. We have 9 or so seniors. I've been playing with Nick Anderson for 7+ years and known Adam Sanchez for about the same amount of time. Everyone on our team gets along pretty well and we spend a lot of time together off the field as I'm sure is typical of most teams.


7.) Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions you would like to share with us?

Well, I don't really have much of a ritual, I just make sure I don't sleep too much the night before.


8.) Can you give us a prediction for Saturday's game?

I would love to.

3-1 St. Norbert. It will be the last game ever played on our field (if construction is on time for the new stadium) and I will do whatever it takes to win that game. Carroll is rolling but I think we match up well with them and it should be a good game.

drago wrote:Good luck on Saturday SNC.

Ollie Octagon wrote:I am not sure you can just get someone to fall down without putting in a little work.