Goal keeper looks to keep up momentum, winning ways

It’s a great week to be Nathan Ingham.

The FGCU men’s soccer team is on fire after winning last week against both Iona and No. 32 South Carolina at the USF Tournament in Tampa. And both victories were shutouts.

 So it’s good to be Ingham -- the goalie.

Ingham is not one to be complacent about a win or a shutout. He still asserts that in soccer, it’s anyone’s game.

“In soccer you’re never in complete control,” Ingham said. “It’s always unpredictable when you play good teams that are ranked. Iona and South Carolina are dangerous because they can change at any time and score.”

Ingham, an Ontario, Canada native is a sophomore at FGCU. In high school, he was team captain of the Kenswick High School soccer team for his final three years. He was also a two-time volleyball MVP at Kenswick. In his freshman year at FGCU, he accounted for over 30 saves against opposing teams. He shows no sign of slowing down this year.

Ingham had five saves against the ranked Gamecocks to notch his third career shutout.

With a team full of star senior players, Ingham has wasted no time proving he’s ready to play with the big boys. Seniors William Morse and Andres Navas have torn up the field the last three games, accounting for four of the seven goals, however, their efforts would be in vain if not for Ingham’s cat-like reflexes defending the Eagles’ goal.

“We have a great young group,” Ingham said. “We have three freshmen and one sophomore starting right now and they’ve been great. As we go on with our young team and as we grow up together we’re going to be a real dangerous team.”

Coach Bob Butehorn is pleased with Ingham’s performance.

“Nate had a decent weekend, there are some things he needs to work on but he’s happy with the shutouts,” Butehorn said. “He may give most of the credit to the guys in front of him but he came up with saves that were necessary for us.”

Ingham is a born athlete and with almost a decade of soccer playing behind he has no plans of slowing down.

“I think if everything goes as planned I’m going to try and go into the MLS after college,” Ingham says.

The Resort and Hospitality major does have a back-up plan should he ever part ways with his favorite pastime.

“If soccer doesn’t pan out I’ll use my major to get a big chef job on a cruise-liner,” Ingham said.

With the way Ingham and the soccer team are playing, that back-up plan doesn’t seem necessary. The young team is geared up for their next game, and with the support of the Dirty Birds and each other, the only place Ingham can go is up.

“I don’t think the team chemistry has ever been better. We’re having a blast,” Ingham said.

Virginia Commonwealth University is the next game lined up for the Eagles and once again they are back on their home turf. On Friday, the Eagles face off against VCU and on Sunday they will try to knock off another ranked team in No. 21 Furman.