By AILEEN BURKE
Executive Editor
Saint Rose is home to many athletes with splendiferous perspectives and stories: one of particular note is men’s soccer center midfielder Harry Söderlind.
Söderlind hails from Västerås, Sweden, and is one of five Swedes on the men’s soccer team. He has played soccer since the tender age of 5.
He was recruited to Saint Rose after putting together a highlight reel that was sent to some scouts by an independent party.
“I enjoy the teamwork, the community, the brotherhood,” said Söderlind.
Although soccer is his main passion, Söderlind enjoys being with friends, reading when he can, and seeing his girlfriend from Glens Falls.
“Harry is one of my closest friends here at Saint Rose, he is a funny guy and fun things happen when you hang out with him,” said senior teammate Jaakko Teräsranta. “He always believes the best about people, even when they might not deserve the benefit of the doubt.”
Söderlind started his academic career at the college as a political science major, and he later changed to studying marketing in the Huether School of Business.
He attributes his success, including the Elite 24 award for having the highest grade point average out of all of the players in the recent NE-10 men’s soccer championship, on and off the field to the support he feels from the staff and his teammates.
“Harry is very responsible, honest and reliable,” said Filippo Bellu, one of his teammates and fellow roommates in an email. “Having him as a teammate is good because he is resilient, competitive, and he never gives up.”
Söderlind understands that getting what one wants takes hard work, and he is eager to see what the rest of his time at Saint Rose has to offer.
“I am no different than anyone else,” said Söderlind. “I just try to do my work the best I can.”
