Change is good
Position switch yields big results for PHS’ Roseberg
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| Scott Roseberg of Princeton is the 2009 BCR Soccer Player of the Year. (BCR photo/Mike Vaughn) |
PRINCETON — For his senior season with the Tigers, Scott Roseberg made a move from defensive sweeper to a center-mid position.
The results spoke for themselves.
Roseberg became what he calls a “facilitator” for the Tigers offense. His 15 goals as a senior, second on the team, more than doubled the 11 goal output of his first three years playing with the Tigers, and he also had a team and career high seven assists.
For his accomplishments this year for the Tigers, Roseberg is the 2009 BCR Soccer Player of the Year.
Following the departure of last year’s 40-goal scorer Matt McClure, through graduation, the Tigers knew they would be in need of some new offensive firepower.
“We moved Scott up to get our best player more involved in the offense, and the way our defense and (goal keeper) Nolan (Piper) played we were able to leave Scott there for the entire season,” Princeton coach Jason Bird said.
“Scott became our playmaker and that is where you want your best player at,” Bird said.
Roseberg was the Tigers’ leading scorer with 22 points on 15 goals and seven assists. Teammate Reiter Bird had 21 points (15/5).
While it’s hard for him to pick a favorite between the two positions, Roseberg said that he leaned toward center-mid.
“You do get those extra touches on the ball, and you get into the flow of the game that much more,” Roseberg said.
As a midfielder, the 6-3 Roseberg used his height and athleticism to dominate the center of the field, literally showing that he was heads and shoulders above the competition.
“Genetically, I feel like I got lucky there,” Roseberg said. “I guess a big part of my game would be just winning balls in the midfield. Coach Bird stressed that a lot this year.”
Roseberg, who has started his soccer career in pre-school in the Princeton Youth Soccer League, says that soccer is “absolutely” his favorite sport.
“I don’t like things to be too organized, and soccer fits that very well,” Roseberg said.
“It’s like a team sport, but at the same time there’s room to be creative and show individuality on the ball. A lot of different sports are coaches calling plays the whole game, in soccer it’s more like improv, make stuff up as you go. I think that’s exciting.
“When you have the ball, you’ve got options, and you’ve got to play to be as unpredictable as possible so they can’t defend you, I like that aspect of the game,” Roseberg said.
Princeton coach Jason Bird has nothing but high praise when talking about his senior standout.
“First of all, Scott is the perfect student athlete,” Bird said. “He is a great teammate, he always puts the team first before any personal accomplishments.
“I think he has to be one, if not the best player we have had at Princeton,” Bird said. “I know that is hard to prove, but I certainly feel he is at that level.”
For his play on the soccer pitch this season, Roseberg, a captain for the Tigers, was an IHSA All-Sectional selection, and was the Tigers’ team MVP. He also earned a unanimous first-team NCIC All-Conference nod, as perhaps the first four-time all-NCIC pick.
He also was a first team all-tournament selection at Orion.
Roseberg hopes to be able to continue his soccer career at the collegiate level, and is currently weighing his options for colleges. He said that he has worked out for several schools, most recently Cedarville University in Ohio.
Bird said that he thinks Roseberg has only begun to tap his potential as a soccer player.
“Scott’s best soccer days are yet to come,” Bird said. “I think as he goes on to the next level he will get better.”
Bird said that younger players working their way up to the varsity ranks of the Tigers should take notice of Roseberg’s team-first attitude and work ethic.
“Scott has put in years and years of work into this sport and he has earned all the recognition that he has gotten,” Bird said. “I hope our younger players will take a look at Scott’s success and realize what it took for him to be at that
level, and still realize the success of the team is what is really important.”
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BCR Soccer Players of the Year
Through 2003
2009 — Scott Roseberg, Princeton
2008 — Matt McClure, Princeton
2007 — Michael Thompson, Wyatt Lind, Princeton
2006 — Matt McClure, Princeton
2005 — Jared Jaggers, Princeton
2004 — Evan Hultine, Princeton
2003 — Nick Cutter, Jeromy Johnson, Loren Moore, Princeton
