:10 Seconds With Connor Noe

COURTESY PHOTO/ PSU Athletics

:10 Seconds With Connor Noe

Justin Siewierski
Sports Editor

When I first sat down with Men’s soccer coach Rob Wright before the 2015 season started, I asked him what he was the most excited about. “I think we have an established defense this year, something that we’ve struggled with last year,” he said. More often then not, a team will put one of their best players in the backfield in an attempt to lock down a position, and add a sense of seniority to the back line. One of the key factors for Wright’s team to have their best record in nearly a decade had a lot to do with defensemen Connor Noe.

The senior Criminal Justice Major from Rochester, New Hampshire, had a fantastic season in the backfield. Any good team is made from the back forward, and with the help of senior teammate Adam Edmunds (Wilton, NH), Noe has helped establish and coach a solid pair of returning defenders in Jesper Fredholm (Stockholm, Sweden) and Daniel Shaw (Winchester, England). Before Noe’s season came to an end this past Wednesday, I had an opportunity to interview him for this week’s installment of 10 Seconds.

*When did you first start playing soccer?

I started playing soccer when I was pretty young, probably somewhere around the ages of 4 or 5.

*What kind of transition was it going from high school to college soccer?

My transition from high school soccer to college soccer was actually a tough one. Coming out of high school, you often see yourself as one of the best on your given team, as I'm sure is true with most collegiate athletes. But when you come to college, you are stepping on the field with and against players that are most likely the best from their high schools as well. I'm not only playing with Division I high school soccer players from New Hampshire, I'm playing with great players from all over the world. This was the hardest part of my transition. I went from playing every minute of every game, to coming off the bench to rest our starters. This frustrated me and I often thought about if I wanted to play anymore, but now as a senior I understand what it's all about. It took a lot of time and hard work to get where I am today. You have four years to become the best you that you can be.

*What was your 'welcome to soccer' moment?

My first experiences with Plymouth State soccer were life changing, given college in itself is a big transition. It is almost like you are starting all over again, but for me it was in a good way. You go to high school for 4 years, first as a freshman when everyone is looking down on you as the squirts of the school. Then you make your way up to the top of the totem pole. I felt like that little squirt again, having to prove myself and get that respect back.

*Why Plymouth State?

Honestly Plymouth State was not even close to the top of my list when I was applying to schools. Me being from the seacoast area of NH, I wanted to go somewhere far away and big. My dream has always been to be a Buckeye and go to the Ohio State University, but as my decision time narrowed it just seemed too unrealistic. Then one of my friends from high school, whom also played on the soccer team here at Plymouth told me about his experiences and he really wanted me to try it out. Not long after, I got an invitation from Coach Wright to come to preseason for the soccer team. From that point forward, I had my focus set on Plymouth State University. And I have never made a better decision in my life. I studied down in Miami for a semester my Sophomore year at Florida International University. I thought this would be my chance to experience that big school that I had always dreamed of going to. Yeah it was fun in all, 60,000 students, great weather year around, right outside of downtown Miami. Sounds like the life, but I missed Plymouth every day I was there. It also didn't help that I was still receiving class cancelation text messages from all the snow. Plymouth is my family, and to this day I feel like I wasted a semester when I could have spent it here in Plymouth.

*You're sitting amongst the top teams this year in the LEC. How do you think your team got to that point down the stretch?

I think the biggest difference this year from previous years is that we are all willing to go to war for each other. We will all put ourselves on the line to better the overall well-being of the team. Since I have been here, we have always had very skillful players at Plymouth. But we have never had the camaraderie that we do this year. Although there is still seniority throughout the team, in prior years I felt like that exact seniority made people think that they were automatically better then the rest. There is none of that now. Each one of us has a role for the team, we all understand that role and we are 100% willing to do it to the best of our ability. Freshman or senior, were all brothers of the ball, and we share a brotherhood that I don't think any of us would give up.

*What has soccer taught you that no other class has?

I feel like classes for the most part teach us how to better ourselves as individuals. We study to get good test scores, which will then help better our grades, which then improves your GPA. Soccer on the other hand, takes a group of individuals and teaches them how to work together so they can be successful as a unit. There are only 11 of us on the field at a time, but it takes all 26 of us to be successful and to reach our goals.

*Best memory from PSU?

My best memory at Plymouth State University is still in the making. To win the LEC, graduate, better myself, and have the time of my life doing it. Plymouth State is a one of a kind place and it will forever be a part of who I am.

*How much time would you say you've put into soccer?

Soccer has single handedly been my largest time investment throughout my life. Given I was a 4 sport athlete, soccer or basketball was my go to activity when I had nothing else to do. Soccer season lasts about 3 months, consists of 4 practices a week, about 2 hours long, and two games lasting about the same amount of time. Then you have overtime, rehab, traveling time for away games, video, warm up time and team meetings to account for. I don't think I could give you a straight up number as to how much time is invested into being an athlete at Plymouth State, but it safe to say that it is a huge aspect of my life.

*What's on your pre-game playlist?

It might sound crazy, but I have listened to the same warm up CD throughout my entire career at PSU. Partly because we are all too lazy to make a new one and also because it stands for something. It starts off with a rap made by a Plymouth alumni himself, then a mixture of house music, rock and hip hop. A perfect mix to get amped to.

*Where do you see yourself in five years?

Although I set high standards for myself and expect nothing less then what I set my goals to, I am not huge on looking into or predicting the future. I like to take life one day at a time and make the most out of it with what I got. I don't have the faintest clue as to where I will be in five years. I know where I'd like to be, but that by itself won't be enough. I have to work hard and stayed determined and that is what I plan to do.