News - Sports

Thursday, May. 15, 2008

Priceless keepers

Soccer worth the price for Trojans' Gladden, Foster

Soccer goalie gloves: $80.

Soccer shoes: $110-$160.

Gas for road games: Which day?

State championship: Priceless.

Just ask Northwestern goalies Clayton Gladden and Ryan Foster. They'll tell you all about it.

"Some people think soccer is a cheap sport, but it's not," Gladden said. "The school provides our uniforms, but we have to buy our gloves and shoes. It can get expensive.

"It's not the cost that matters. It's winning. We want to win the state championship as much as we've wanted anything."

But that's not a big problem. Players want to look their best lining up for a state championship game.

Northwestern, 22-2, is no stranger to the boys Class AAAA state championship game. Saturday, the Trojans will make their fifth trip to the finals in six years, to play Spring Valley, the No. 1-ranked team in South Carolina.

It will be a rematch of the last two title games, won by Northwestern 1-0 in 2006 and by Spring Valley 3-2 last year.

It will take more to win than just the best equipment money can buy. It will take focus, especially from the goalies from both teams.

"When you're in goal, you can never take your eye off the ball," Foster said. "Because of the way our team plays, especially on defense, opponents don't get a lot of shots.

"We have an attacking offense, so there are lots of time when we are standing alone on the other end, but that doesn't mean we can relax. We're not back there humming to ourselves or thinking about things other than soccer. We're in the game, watching where the ball is at all times."

Goalies are a little different. They wear a different color jersey from their teammates so they stand out from the other players when the ball is near the net. They are the only players allowed to use their hands.

Northwestern has allowed only two goals in four playoff games and just 13 in 24 games. The Trojans have 14 shutouts and limited four playoff opponents to only 35 shots on goal, an average of 8.75 per game.

In the saves category, Northwestern's goalies have 11, a testament to the way the Trojans control the ball. In comparison, opposing goalies in those four game have 30 saves and have allowed 19 Northwestern goals.

Gladden, a 6-foot, 150-pound junior, was the starter all last season. Foster, a 6-0, 140-pound senior, won the job this year.

Trojans coach Dom Wren said every season he lets his players fight for starting positions. He opens up the competition during scrimmages and preseason practice and decides which players should be on the field when games start.

"Foster showed more consistency in his abilities during the preseason," Wren said. "Foster has done a great job, is very good and has been solid all season.

"When a match goes to penalty kicks, we put Clayton in goal. He's a superb shot-stopper and has great reaction ability. Because of that, we use him on PKs because he gives us a chance to win."

In Northwestern's home game against Spring Valley last month, the score was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation and neither team scored in the overtime periods. The next tiebreaker was penalty shots and Foster took his spot in front of the net.

The Trojans went up 2-0 and were looking good when Gladden smothered Sean Flynn's shot. But an official ruled Gladden came off the line and awarded Flynn another shot, which he made.

This one was good and the Vikings outshot the Trojans 4-3 for a 2-1 victory.

"I didn't think I was off the line,'' Gladden said after the game. "It just blows my mind. I don't know what to say. I made the save and I'm upset because if it had stood, we would have been up by two."

Wren put another gallon of gas in the tank for the trip to the playoffs. He moved up freshman goalie Sam Faris from the JV team.

But Foster will be the first option, with Gladden ready to go if needed. Foster has logged 1,359 minutes this season, allowed 10 goals and has 50 saves. Gladden has been on the field 545 minutes, has 12 saves and allowed three goals.

"It doesn't matter who starts," Gladden said. "What matters is that we win. Ryan and I battled for the spot in the preseason and you never know what's going to happen. I've had my fair share of playing time, so I'm not complaining."

Gladden has never played another position and grew up playing in the youth soccer leagues in the area. He kicked for the Trojans' football team his sophomore year and is talking with coach Jimmy Wallace about punting in the fall.

Soccer is his first priority, and he's not looking past the state championship.

Like Gladden, Foster got his start in the youth leagues and has played forward. But he settled in at goalie and doesn't think he could play anywhere else.

Gladden and Foster never played together until high school. Gladden's Discoveries Soccer age group is a year older.

They have become good friends, feeding off each other and lending a helping hand. They often get together and practice, taking turns being the kicker and the goalie. And during matches, they help each other as much as possible.

That could be a factor on Saturday.

"It's going to be a tough match,'' Foster said "We've played some good teams this season, but I'd have to say Irmo and Spring Valley are the best we've faced."

Counting last year's championship game and this year's regular-season meeting, Foster and Gladden have a good idea of what to expect. And no matter which is on the field, the goal is the same.

"We want to win and we don't let things like who is playing and who isn't get in the way," Gladden said. "There is no competition between us. We try to help each other out the best we can. It's all for the team."