E. Village College Student Gets Soccer Honor

The Norwegian native was named Rookie of the Week after scoring two goals for his Berkeley College team

Haakon Schjelderup, a sophomore at Berkeley College and the star forward of their soccer team the Knights, has much reason to celebrate.

The week of October 21, the Norway native was awarded the honor of Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week.

"I've never won an award before, if feels good," Schjelderup said.

Although previously on the HVIAC honor roll twice, the East Village transplant finally received recognition for his talents when he scored two consecutive winning goals against Saint Kings College and SUNY Old Westbury.

In the same week, the Berkeley Knights gallantly rode their way into the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Championships off a four win streak, ending their season on a 13-3 record according to the USCAA. It is the team's first championship bid in soccer and their best season to date.

"I'm very excited," said Schjelderup, "it is my first championship ever."

The star rookie believes the Berkeley soccer program to be excellent and said that it generates outstanding sports comraderie.

For Schjelderup , these accomplishments seem to have been a lifetime in the making. A sports aficionado since his youth in Kolvereid, he began to focus his sights on the goalpost at the age of 15 when he decided that soccer was the sport for him.

"I like the feeling of accomplishment," Schjelderup said, evoking the excitement of scoring a goal.

As for the young player's future, he sees himself hitting the books as efficiently as he hits the ball.

"Finishing my management degree and hopefully getting my master's in business management" are his academic goals, Schjelderup said.

"And if possible, to continue playing soccer, to get a scholarship and to make it professional," he added. "It has always been a dream of mine."