COLLEGE MEN’S SOCCER: Unfinished Business: Oakland’s Noah Jensen looks to lead Golden Grizzlies to one final moment of glory
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Every time Noah Jensen touches the ball, those around Oakland University’s men’s soccer program believes that something could — and often will — happen.
The Oakland super senior has been more than a key cog in Oakland’s engine during his career — the super senior midfielder has been one of Oakland’s best players.
That’s ever.
For a program that started 48 years ago back in 1973, that’s quite a statement.
“I think Noah will be one of the best ever to play here at Oakland when all is said and done,” said head coach Eric Pogue earlier in the season. “He means so much to Oakland soccer. He has done so much to help us become successful. Last year he had the highest honor for us in earning All-America honors, at least at the D-I level. I believe Jason Perry earned something similar back in the early 2000s.”
Oakland University senior midfielder Noah Jensen has enjoyed one fine career with the Golden Grizzlies and is one of the best players in program history. Courtesy Photo | Amanda Thick, Amanda Leigh Photography.
Perry, a Southfield High graduate and current assistant coach at Division I Butler University, earned countless postseason honors for OU in the early 2000s. Amongst the honors was the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer All-America Third Team in 2003. Perry went on to play at various professional levels, including one season in the MLS.
Two decades later and Jensen is on a similar path.
A dynamic playmaking midfielder, Jensen has built quite a reputation in an Oakland uniform, as his NCAA Division I All-America Second Team status following the 2020 campaign suggests (actually played in the winter and spring of 2021 due to Covid protocols).
This is the highest honor of an Oakland player in the Division I era (1998-2021). The Golden Grizzlies had a handful of All-American players while in NCAA Division II, when they competed as the Pioneers and were a national powerhouse.
“Noah is also one of the most beat up players in D-I,” continued Pogue. “Every time he gets the ball, he is kicked, pulled down and beat up (by the opposition). But he always comes through with the right play. He sets up his teammates or he comes through with clutch goals.”
“I just try to do what it takes to help us win,” smiled Jensen following a 4-3 victory over Cleveland State on Oct. 9 — a game where Oakland scored four unanswered goals in the final 22 minutes with Jensen netting the game-winner.
Near the tail end of the 2020 campaign, Jensen and his teammates were delivered some heartbreaking news. A couple members within the program were detected to have COVID-19 and the school was forced to drop out of the conference tournament. The Golden Grizzlies had only one loss at the time and finished in second place in the conference standings with a 6-2-1 record and 20 total points — one point behind Northern Kentucky, which coincidently won the regular season championship last season at 7-1-0 and 21 points.
“We remember that well (not being allowed to play in the Horizon League tourney last season),” said Jensen. “Since then we wanted to get to the tournament this year and win it. We beat UIC (University of Illinois-Chicago) in the semifinals and that was the team we were supposed to play last year in the semifinals. And UIC beat us earlier in the season. But we had a goal this year to come back, play in the tournament, and try to win it.”
Oakland, the preseason favorite in the Horizon League, captured both the regular season (8-1-1) and conference tournament (2-0) titles this season, both part of Jensen and the Grizzlies’ preseason goals. Oakland defeated both the University of Illinois-Chicago (3-2) and Cleveland State (3-1) to win the Horizon League title.
Oakland has not reached the NCAA Division I College Cup Tournament since 2014. The Golden Grizzlies’ previous D-I NCAA-qualifying teams came in the Summit League (named the Mid-Continent Conference before that).
Jensen starred in high school in Canada, playing at Courtice (Ont.) Holy Trinity Secondary, where he was a four-year starter. He was a two-time Team MVP in high school, scoring 43 goals during his prep career. He led his team to two regional championships and to the Ontario provincial bronze medal in 2016.
He also starred with Sigma FC to the U20 Soccer Academy Alliance while in high school.
It was there he caught the eye of Pogue and his coaching staff. He signed with Oakland in 2017 as one of the best high school and club players in Ontario.
Jensen has more than just fit into Oakland’s system. He has thrived during his stellar career, highlighted by countless moments of glory and some days of agony of defeat.
Today, Jensen and the Golden Grizzlies (currently 12-6-2 overall) have some serious unfinished business, not reaching the NCAA postseason during his five-season tenure.
“(Reaching) the NCAA Tournament has been one of the ultimate goals for all of us,” emailed Jensen, whose team is red-hot entering the NCAA Tournament on a four-game win streak and a 10-2-1 record over the final 13 games. “We haven’t been here in a few years. But we’re not satisfied of just being there. We want to win and hang around for awhile.”
Oakland will begin its trek in the NCAA Division I Tournament with a first-round game against Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament champion Northern Illinois on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. EST (6 p.m. CT) in DeKalb, Illinois. Fifth-ranked Pittsburgh awaits in the wings for the winner in the second round of 48-school field.
“We’re playing really well right now. We’re definitely a team that no one wants to face right now,” said Jensen.
So far this season Jensen has collected seven goals and 12 assists — again amongst the leaders of not only the Horizon League but in the nation, ranking tied for third. Jensen’s 14 assists last season (nine games) was also well inside the top 10 in the country.
Leading up to the NCAA Division I pre-regional opener at Northern Illinois, Jensen added three more honors to his stacked resume — earning the Horizon League Tournament MVP award, TopDrawerSoccer National Player of the Week, and earned a spot on the College Soccer Men’s Team of the Week.
The three-time All-Horizon League First Team choice is expected to earn All-Region and All-America honors again in the upcoming weeks. Regardless where he falls on those postseason lists, one thing is for certain.
Noah Jensen has carved his name permanently into Oakland’s lore as one of its best.
Take that to the back of the net.
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