GOLDEN GOALS
Special to the Ironmen
Written by Danielle Weiss, Rider University

The warm-up music pumps loudly as you run your sprints and take your practice shots. Your heart races and it’s your first time on the turf as you step up to play the first game with a new team. You can feel the eyes of the fans on you as you make your first moves on the field. You cut past the defensive player and strike the ball to take your first shot as an Ironmen player. The crowd rumbles and roars as you see the ball go in the net.

This is what newcomer Randi Patterson experienced as his first game as an Ironmen player. Patterson, a forward from Teaneck, New Jersey, is one of the few locals on the team.

“It’s so great to be playing close to home,” Patterson said. “It’s all I could ask for to be playing in front of my family and friends.”

Patterson, who is a diverse player, plays indoor and outdoor soccer respectively. Before coming to the Ironmen, Patterson was drafted by the Red Bulls and played for the USL-1 Battery in Charleston, South Carolina. Being such a skilled player, it’s possible to get moved around from team to team.

“I’ve grown up playing for so many different teams in so many different places, so I’ve pretty much grown to adapt [to the team and the surroundings]," he said. “The most important thing is to prove yourself every day you play the game.”

Since being drafted by the Red Bulls, it’s obvious Patterson has promising Major League Soccer (MLS) caliber ability. Currently, Patterson is training to get back to MLS by doing all that he can to score goals and help the team win.

“Right now, I am trying to get prepared for outdoor,” Patterson continued. “My job as a forward is to score goals. The more goals I score, the more people will look at me, so that’s what I am trying to do.”

Since indoor soccer with the Ironmen takes place in the winter/early spring, Patterson typically plays during the summer to keep in shape and keep on improving his skills.

“This summer, I am going back to Charleston, to play with the Battery again," he said. "My goal is to do as well as I can, give 100 percent and put my entire focus into it.”

In his soccer career, Patterson has contributed to many wins for the various teams he’s played for. While playing for the Battery this past summer, Patterson led the team with 10 goals and 21 points. In the short time he has played for the Ironmen, fans are able to recognize his hustle and determination on the field as well as his hunger to score goals.

From watching Patterson play, it's become very clear to the dedicated Ironmen fans that no matter if its grass or turf beneath his feet, Patterson continues to shine as golden as his goal record in the eyes of his young fans. 

Danielle Weiss is currently a junior at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. She is spending the semester interning for the New Jersey Ironmen in the Communications Department.