Boiling a college soccer career down to one singular moment is an inexact science. There’s often no perfect answer, no clear front-runner that is leaps and bounds above the rest.
But if there’s one moment that embodies what senior center back Nick Boardman (Greenwich, Conn.) brought to Williams, especially during the 2022 season, it occurred on Dec. 1 against Mary Washington.
The Ephs were in the Division 3 men’s soccer national semifinal and extra time loomed in a 0-0 deadlock. Then a recycled ball found its way to junior center back Eamon Gara Grady (Manchester, Conn.) on the left flank.
His inswinging cross, delivered at the perfect pace and angle, arrived at the back post in the 81st minute. Up popped Boardman, who sent a thundering header under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead that Williams never relinquished.
