Nicolas Platter knows about patience. The 26-year-old Californian waited two-plus seasons to become the Minnesota Thunder’s starting goalkeeper. Platter told Sports Headliners he learned patience during his high school and college soccer careers when he waited for opportunities.
Platter didn’t play regularly in high school until his senior year. In college at Cal-Davis he waited awhile to play, too. The exercise in patience even included last season with the Thunder when Platter had to recover from an off-season ligament injury to his right thumb.
Eventually he won the starting goalkeeper position with the Thunder. He played in 18 games, finishing fifth in saves among goal keepers in the USL. The year before, 2006, he had played in only five games. He played in just two games with the Thunder in 2005.
The season is early but Platter has been a major contributor to the Thunder’s success. His statistics include four shutouts (tied for second in the USL) and a 0.714 goals against average (tied for third best in the league). The Thunder’s record is 4-2-1 and the team is tied for third place in the USL. The Thunder has only scored more than one goal in a game once this season, more evidence of Platter’s importance to the team’s successful start.
Last season the Thunder was 5-12-11, finishing next to last in the standings. The roster has been improved and Platter likes what he sees. “We believe we can win,” he said.
The Thunder won for the first time in 11 years at Vancouver in late April, Platter said. Now second place Vancouver plays here tomorrow night (Saturday) at the National Sports Center in Blaine. Platter described it as a “big game” and a hoped for point in the standings. “Any time we play Vancouver it’s always a struggle,” he said.