Being a soccer goalie can be a lonely life.

Edwardsburg senior Ryan Mahaney knows the feeling and wouldn’t trade his position for any other spot on the field.

“I like being that last man standing back there,” said Mahaney. “I just love the adrenaline rush. It’s a beautiful game.”

Keeping focused is the biggest challenge for Mahaney and other soccer goalies.

You can go several minutes without a stop and then quickly have to make a diving save on a breakaway shot.

That happened to Mahaney Monday against Vicksburg. He had no saves in the first half and five in the second in a 4-0 Eddies win over the Bulldogs.

“He was a little bored today,” said Edwardsburg boys soccer coach Sean Jesse, who has had Mahaney as a starting goalie for two years.

“Keeping your head in the game and staying focused is the toughest part of being a goalie,” Mahaney said. “It’s hard sometimes when you have games like this (against Vicksburg).”

Mahaney’s ability to focus was on display in the second half against the Bulldogs when he recorded a save on a Vicksburg breakaway shot.

“I thought I played well,” Mahaney said. “I got a shutout. That’s the mentality we want. We want the shutout and we want the win.”

Jesse is impressed with Mahaney’s physical talent and the intangibles he brings to the team.

“His athleticism helps him be successful, but the most important thing he provides is communication. He is always talking to our back line. Whatever he doesn’t like, he gets fixed. He is always training our other goalies during practice. He’s one of our leaders on the field.”

Mahaney has had opportunities to shed his goalie uniform and play the field in matches that weren’t close.

“It’s kind of fun when we’re leading, like 7-0, and getting the chance to play on the field,” Mahaney said.

“But, when it comes down to it, I love playing goalie.”

Mahaney has never scored in a varsity soccer match, but he did come close to denting the net last year.

“I earned us a penalty kick during one (scoring) opportunity,” the 6-foot-2 Mahaney said. “Coach let somebody else take the PK. It was last year on senior night. But I love coach. He’s a fun guy. It was senior night and I understood it.”

Sounds like a team leader.