North Carolina State University Athletics
Cain Playing All the Right Numbers In Final Season
9/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 20, 2011
There seems to be a different feel thus far to the NC State women's soccer team in 2011 than in the past few past seasons. Confidence is growing on a game-by-game basis and the skill level of the players has risen to levels not seen in the program in some time under now third-year head coach Steve Springthorpe.
In fact the results are showing in the win column as well as the Wolfpack has begun the season 8-2, including an 8-1 record in non-conference games, the best start since Springthorpe came on board back in 2009.
No where is that more evident than Tanya Cain, a seasoned veteran forward that is enjoying a tremendous final season in Raleigh.
It took her just six games to equal her career high in goals, and after leading the team in scoring through the first eight games of the season is currently tied for second with 10 points with four goals and two assists.
"The biggest thing that stands out to the coaching staff is her progression as a player the last two years," said Springthorpe. "When we came in here as a staff in 2009 we saw a lot of pottential on the field and recognized that she could potentially be a huge asset to our team.
"She would score some goals, she would be dynamic on the field, but really this past eighth months she has stepped up her game and has worked extremely hard on the things that were holding her back from being the premier player for us."
The off-season investment she made in herself to get quicker, stronger and faster paid off immediately when she scored the only goal in a 1-0 season-opening victory over Virginia Commonwealth on Aug. 19.
The mostly soft-spoken Cain explains it simply as just falling in line with the example set by the upper classmen she looked up to as a younger player.
"I saw my teammates working so hard and putting in the extra work and the extra fitness so this past summer I decided it was time for me to put in the extra work, the extra running and go through all the conditioning drills. It was really just the girls support that made it all possible."
Cain sees the benefits paying off in every single match, not just for her but for the entire team.
"We have a no quit attitude and its playing out on the field so far. All of us our just working our tails off and its showing."
In years past Cain was a 30-40 minute player for the Wolfpack, but according to Springthorpe she now can give an all out 70-80-minute effort and the results have shown up in the box score.
In the second match of the season against Navy, her new found fitness level was on display and after countless near misses all afternoon long, Cain made one of her patent cut moves and was ultimately dragged down inside the box in the 88th minute. Classmate Alex Berger stepped up and converted the game winner.
This sequence of Cain getting cut down by an opposing defender in the penalty area has played out three times already this season. Each time Berger has found the back of the net for the Wolfpack.
All toll Cain has had a direct hand in nine of the 16 goals scored by the Wolfpack through its first eight games - her four goals, the three penalty kicks and two assists.
Cain grew up just over 70 miles south of Raleigh in the small town of Pinebluff, N.C., which is located minutes from the golfing mecca of Pinehurst. She comes from an athletic family - her grandfather, James Griffin, ran track at NC State, brother, Brandon, played baseball at North Carolina A&T, and her father is a weight lifter and does personal training as a side job.
She took to soccer and basketball at Pinecrest High School, and not only did she score a staggering 171 goals in soccer, Cain once made nine 3-pointers in a junior varsity basketball game. That would make even Kellie Harper stand up and take notice.
Cain also played the violin growing up for about four years and said her favorite song to play was a series of pieces called "Spring" by composer Felix Mendelssohn.
"I started playing in fourth grade and stuck with it until about eighth grade, but once high school started I gave it up. Probably the best memory I have was playing at Disney World at the Hard Rock Cafe."
WIth all that being said and the well-rounded person that she is, we haven't even touched on what Cain is arguably most proud of as a young adult, being a terrific student.
A self described "numbers person," Cain is an accounting major who lists math as her favorite subject. She has earned numerous awards over the last two years as one of the strongest student-athletes we have at NC State.
"Playing sports is right now, but your education is forever," said Cain. "You have to focus on your studies now because its going to impact you a lot more than playing sports."
She has twice earned plaudits from the Academic All-American program, including a first team all-district award last season as a junior. She has also gained notice from the ACC and the National Soccer Coaches Association.
Cain's immediate academic plans after graduating in May is a one-year graduate level program at NC State, gaining some real world experience with an internship and sitting for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam.
"When your looking at what type of student-athlete you want to represent your program Tanya has been nothing short of a perfect example of what NC State stands for," explained Springthorpe. "She makes great decisions off the field and represents our program extremely well. I think a lot of people could follow and learn from the blue print that Tanya has created for herself."
Cain takes most everything in stride and really understands the good fortune she has had the past four years with the Wolfpack.
"It's really been an honor to represent NC State," said Cain. "I've had a great time and a lot of good experiences and know I will forever cherish the opportunity I had here at NC State."
The Wolfpack hosts Wake Forest Thursday at 7 p.m.
