Bermuda national team goalkeeper Dwayne Adams has been winning games single-handedly for his club in a sensational first season in professional soccer in the US.

That is the opinion of his coach at Charlotte Eagles Mark Steffens who rates the 26-year-old as "the best I've ever seen at this level''.

Adams signed for the Charlotte Eagles in March and in his debut campaign has seen the club rise to the top of the USL Division Three Pro League's Atlantic Conference.

The former North Village player and veteran of Bermuda's 1992 World Cup qualifying campaign has recovered from a difficult start to become one of the league's highest rated 'keepers.

And Adams felt he had developed spiritually as well as in football terms, helped by the environment at Eagles, where there is a heavy emphasis on Christianity.

With one game to play -- Saturday's clash with Roanoke Wrath at Charlotte's Memorial Stadium -- the North Carolina club has already sealed a berth in next month's promotion play-offs.

The Eagles soared to the summit of the table on the back of a 10-game winning streak, which included a 4-1 win against their closest rivals Wilmington Hammerheads, the only side who can still challenge them for top spot.

Their 3-2 loss against South Carolina Shamrocks last Saturday night was the Eagles' first defeat since June 11.

Adams has enjoyed being part of such a success story, playing in front of average crowds of more than 1,200 and has relished the chance to train daily.

"Being able to play every day has got my game back to what it used to be and it's made me a lot more confident,'' said Adams from his home in Greensboro.

"It's been a great season to be part of this team. It's not often at professional level that a team goes unbeaten as long as we did.'' Adams studies at High Point University, North Carolina, and aims to graduate with a degree in sports management and business management in December this year.

He admitted that his first weeks with the Eagles had been a struggle, as he juggled the demands of his studies and the daily commute to training as well as finding time for family life with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

"Early on in the season, I found it really overwhelming, still living near High Point and having to drive one hour, 45 minutes to training,'' said Adams.

"But the club was great and did not put me under any pressure. They provided us with accommodation for the summer and they just told me to keep at it. It was just a matter of getting through the time of transition.'' Adams was always confident he had the ability to make the professional grade and he felt the main difference between representing the Eagles and club football in Bermuda was one of attitude.

"At home when you mess up with a kick or a throw, no-one runs around and looks at you. But here when you mess up people do look at you because they don't expect you to mess up.

"I guess that's part of being a pro, making sure you cover the basics well.

And I think that's what we've done well as a team and that's why we've been successful.'' The Christian status of the club has only added to Adams' enjoyment of his time there. It entails extra responsibilities for the players, such as running junior soccer camps and giving half-hour Bible classes to the children taking part.

"I feel I am benefiting spiritually from being here. We learn a lot on and off the field and it is a good balance,'' said Adams.

"The club is getting ready to plan a mission trip to Africa next March. Last year, they went to Jerusalem and Jordan.'' Adams said the play-offs, which are a long drawn-out affair involving round-robin play in groups of four teams going on to quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final, would last at least a month.

While the Eagles were still involved, Adams said it would be difficult for him to get leave to represent Bermuda in next month's friendly internationals.

Otherwise, he would be keen to play.

Adams was reluctant to discuss his own form, but coach Steffens stressed that his goalkeeper was a mainstay of his team.

"Dwayne is fourth in the league goalkeeping rankings, but that is deceptive because we've let in a couple of soft goals,'' said Steffens. "I would say Dwayne is the best goalkeeper in the league.

"He's played extremely well and he's done everything we've asked of him. He's won a couple of games for us on his own. The way he's played sometimes, I have never seen a 'keeper in this league play at that level.'' Steffens added that Adams was a highly influential player in many ways.

"He distributes well and communication skills at the back are very strong.

His shot-stopping and blocking are huge and he plays much bigger than he is, because he anticipates so well, he dominates his area.'' Adams had a signed a one-season deal with the Eagles, but Steffens confirmed the club was keen to retain him.

"We really want to keep Dwayne, but we are only now in the early stages of negotiation,'' he added.

Adams wants to stay, but he also wants to continue his studies at High Point, in the form of a Masters degree in business administration, an 18-month course.