2008 Woodie Awards
Walking on water
The Spartans slog past the Eagles 2-0
Joseph Murphy
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Sports
The Spartans' 2-0 defeat over Georgia Southern on Friday night was televised on the Fox Soccer Channel. First half goals from Nirav Kadam and Travis Young carried the Spartans to victory through a torrential downpour and a water-logged field.
It was the final regular season home game for seniors Taylor Johnson, David Worthen, David Grayson, and D.J. McCurry. The play of feisty freshman Kadam helped to ensure that their final regular season game at UNCG Soccer Stadium was a victory.
"Our main point for the whole week was playing with heart, for the seniors," said Kadam.
Kadam seemed to be the only player on the field whose cleats still had grip in the sloppy condition. Seven minutes into the first half Kadam gathered a long entry lob from Jokull Elisabetarson at the top of the penalty area, stepped between two defenders, created space and launched it into the top right corner to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
Kadam assisted in the scoring of the Spartans' second goal about 15 minutes later. Kadam's header off of Matt Strine's cross was blocked right in front of the goal but it ricocheted into the path of Travis Young who fired an easy goal into the left corner of the net that Eagles keeper Joey Ralph was helpless to stop.
Kadam was just glad he could send the four seniors out with a win. "I love them, even though I just met them I still love them," said Kadam.
Play in the rest of the first half became progressively sloppier, as the rain fell harder and the field became soggier. Puddles of standing water befuddled both teams. Passes were impossible to judge and most runs ended with mud in respective players' faces.
The rain finally let up during halftime, and as a result the field was in better condition for the second half. The Spartans continued to control possession and dictate tempo in the second period.
A diving save by Spartan keeper Chad Janda with four and a half minutes to play preserved his first clean sheet of the season and his career.
It was the final regular season home game for seniors Taylor Johnson, David Worthen, David Grayson, and D.J. McCurry. The play of feisty freshman Kadam helped to ensure that their final regular season game at UNCG Soccer Stadium was a victory.
"Our main point for the whole week was playing with heart, for the seniors," said Kadam.
Kadam seemed to be the only player on the field whose cleats still had grip in the sloppy condition. Seven minutes into the first half Kadam gathered a long entry lob from Jokull Elisabetarson at the top of the penalty area, stepped between two defenders, created space and launched it into the top right corner to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
Kadam assisted in the scoring of the Spartans' second goal about 15 minutes later. Kadam's header off of Matt Strine's cross was blocked right in front of the goal but it ricocheted into the path of Travis Young who fired an easy goal into the left corner of the net that Eagles keeper Joey Ralph was helpless to stop.
Kadam was just glad he could send the four seniors out with a win. "I love them, even though I just met them I still love them," said Kadam.
Play in the rest of the first half became progressively sloppier, as the rain fell harder and the field became soggier. Puddles of standing water befuddled both teams. Passes were impossible to judge and most runs ended with mud in respective players' faces.
The rain finally let up during halftime, and as a result the field was in better condition for the second half. The Spartans continued to control possession and dictate tempo in the second period.
A diving save by Spartan keeper Chad Janda with four and a half minutes to play preserved his first clean sheet of the season and his career.
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