When the sun sets on Tanya Cain’s N.C . State career, there is little doubt her profound impact will fade off into the distance.
Representing Pinebluff , N.C ., Cain’s off-the-field personality has been described as humble, respectful and intelligent. Along with a relentless desire to compete on the pitch, teammates and coaches have been dazzled by the forward’s steadfast determination to lead by example.
Among the players who have witnessed Cain’s persistence throughout the past four years, senior captain Paige Dugal said the mindset of the team’s leading point producer seemingly never changes.
“She practices, she plays in games and she does everything with the same intensity and mentality,” Dugal said. “As a defender, we just don’t want to go up against her. She’s the kind of forward we are going to see against good ACC teams. She can make us look silly out there.”
Despite having received playing time since her freshman season, Cain’s offensive creativity rarely ceases to impress other elder statesmen of the Wolfpack . With four goals on the season, the accounting major owns 15 goals for her State career.
“It blows my mind how she gets in and out of the tiniest spaces,” Dugal said. “I don’t even understand how her brain tells her feet to move the ball so quickly out of these little spaces.
“By the time I think she’s in trouble, she’s already past three defenders.”
Although redshirt senior Alex Berger has also seen Cain’s dynamic play since 2008, the talent level of her teammate continues to impress as if she had just arrived into Raleigh several days ago. Berger and Dugal , both starting defenders for the Pack, admitted nobody on the team wishes to go one-on-one with Cain during practice.
“I know that Tanya has a certain presence up top,” Berger said. “None of our defenders in practice really want to defend her because she is so quick and physical. It’s just so hard to stop her. Whether it’s a practice or a game, she is always going hard.”
Berger also made note of how Cain’s goal total could be increased if she received a chance at taking penalty kicks. State is three-for-three on the season in penalty kicks.
“Tanya is so crafty and quick,” Berger said. “She just has a knack for making people miss and getting around people. She’s physical and really good at holding onto the ball. Honestly, she would have seven goals right now if she took penalty kicks.”
As for Cain herself, the mindset has never changed – she wants to work harder each and every practice so those scoring opportunities will arise when it really counts.
“In the past two seasons, [four goals] has been my high for the whole year,” Cain said. “It’s just really good to have that [already], and hopefully they keep coming. Goals are going to be harder to get now that we are starting ACC play, but you just have to be hungry for it. You have to want it.”
After traveling to High Point, State will host the University of North Florida this Sunday. With only two more contests before heated conference play commences, Cain said this year’s team can overcome the annual conference hurdle with simple passion and desire.
“Everyone wants it,” Cain said. “They want to be here and they love the game. Every time we are on the field we are just hungry and we want it. It’s a good feeling to see everyone want it.”
With the bulk of her senior season in full view, Cain knows exactly where she wants the team to arrive come November.
“We know the job we have to do and the goals we want to achieve – reach the NCAA’s,” Cain said. “Every game we are just going out and doing everything we can to get to that result.”
For a humble individual with a gaudy work ethic, it would be the perfect curtain call.
