On September 14, 2016, there was an absolute thriller on the pitch between Hawthorne and Elmwood Park in varsity boys’ soccer.  Although, the first eighty minutes lacked luster, both teams kicked it into to high gear with the game on the line.

During the short lightning delay, The Clarion spoke to the HHS Boys’ soccer head coach Ryan McMann and he said, “I really feel like we should be winning already.”

But to his dismay, after the eightieth minute the score was 0-0, but all of a sudden Elmwood Park shot one past the Hawthorne defense and got it in the back of the net.  Hawthorne was clearly upset, but there was a feeling in the air that they had something left for the final ten minutes.

And just like that Hawthorne was now presented with a penalty kick to tie the game just moments after they restarted. Senior George Nadirashvili toed through the ball and the goalie had no chance.  Now Hawthorne had some momentum with the game tied and again Nadirashvili got some open space in the opponent’s box and gave his team the lead with a high flying chip shot that dropped right in the goal.

The game ended just a minute after and the Bears went home with a win by the skin of their teeth. The varsity boys soccer team is now 3-0 and looking to build off that victory.

After the game Nadirashvili added,  “It was unbelievable; I can only compare this feeling to the day I moved to America.”