By WILLIAM CORBETT
October 11, 2006

The sweat drips from the players’ faces. Anxiety-filled shouts of encouragement pour from the stands. There are three minutes to go, and senior Nick Wyatt is lining up to try the potential game-tying penalty kick. This scene, taken from the second half of the Belmont Abbey men’s soccer game, typified the team’s determination to win for the Homecoming crowd. “Even though we went out sloppy the first half, I knew that if we tied the game, we’d win it. I knew we’d come through,” said freshman soccer player Will Newstreet.

The team’s first-half play lacked in quality, according to many of the players, as Anderson took a 1-0 lead. Yet the sense that victory was in reach never came into question. “It was a terrible first half. We knew we’d start playing well. It was only a matter of time until we won,” said freshman soccer player Victor Freeman.

Many of the student fans at the game also saw the hypothetical glass to be half-full, focusing on the positive effect that Homecoming had on the students there.

“I had a blast at the game. The atmosphere was alive with school spirit. It really brought the student body together,” said junior Jonathan Gareis.

The first half of the game may have been considered unorganized and careless, but fans had unwavering hope for the team in the second half.

“I knew we were going to win. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind. The players, in my opinion, are world-class athletes,” said junior Jason Shaw.

A group of students painted their chests and some donned wigs. This group -- known as the “Abbey Crusaders” -- boosted the spirits of the crowd and players.

“The Abbey Crusaders rocked my socks,” sophomore Earle Maxwell said.

The crowd made a difference not only to those in the stands, but to those on the field, as well.

“The environment made you want to win. We also had to win for ourselves. We were focused on winning. We came out the second half and they weren’t ready for it,” said junior soccer player Edwin Zelaya.

The team came out strong in the second half, tying the game when junior Luis Arrieta scored his league-leading 13th goal of the season about 20 minutes in. Then Wyatt did convert that tiebreaker, giving the Abbey a 2-1 lead. A minute later, sophomore Daniel Morrison added an insurance goal to secure the 3-1 victory. Soon afterwards, players and fans celebrated the emotional win.

“I knew we were going to win. I’ve got confidence in my team,” said junior soccer player Nana Agyeman.

While the Homecoming game drew the largest crowd of the year (over 450 were in attendance), some fans have stuck with the team since the beginning.

“They’re improved with every game I’ve seen. Getting to know the soccer players has made me want to watch them,” said freshman Crystal Silva.

Though the players did not have their coach for the Homecoming game, they knew that they had to play well.

“We wanted to [win] for our coach. We did it for him,” said Agyeman. The team already looks forward to the competition of the CVAC tournament with a record of 11-4-2 at the date of publication. With high hopes on their minds and zealous fans on their bleachers, the players’ spirits soar with every goal.

Zelaya said, “You don’t celebrate, you just think about your next opponent. You ask, ‘Who’s next?’”