By Riley Crowell
Asst. Sports Editor
By Kyra Tolley
Staff Writer
Soccer is an action-packed sport, featuring fancy dribbling, collaboration to move the ball up the field, and fast-paced shots hitting the back of the net.
But of each team’s 11 players on the field, just one of them is the last line of defense, tasked with stopping the combination of teamwide and individual brilliance from the opposition - the goalkeeper.
Goalkeepers are responsible for keeping the defense organized, clearing the ball, starting counterattacks, and most importantly, keeping the ball out of the back of the net.
With every shot flying in from a different angle and at a different speed, keeping the opposing team off of the scoreboard can prove to be a difficult job, but that’s what makes the position so valuable.
Goalkeeper Ty Holden, a junior on the men’s soccer team, said he began playing soccer and goalkeeping at age 5. He said, “Nobody wanted to be a goalkeeper back then. … I just took the position and fell in love with it.”
Holden’s favorite goalkeeper is David Raya, who plays for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Spain national team. He said, “I actually trained with him during the spring. So, David Raya would probably be my number one.”
Holden’s favorite save that he made came when he was playing in England for Hartley Wintney’s U21 team three years ago. He said, “In my first game with the club, I made a penalty save, which kept the game at 3-2. We ended up going on and tying the game 3-3.”
He said he works on distribution the most in practice, as it is vital for the style of play Framingham wants to implement. “Coach likes to keep the ball moving from the back, no matter where [the ball] is and how fast it’s going.”
Holden said being a goalkeeper is challenging, but the rewards outweigh the negatives. “It comes with its ups and downs, but the ups are way higher than the downs. When you make a crazy save, it’s a great feeling.”
He said the most challenging thing about being a goalkeeper is his height. “I’m not tall at all, so it kind of comes down to athletic ability and training.”
Holden takes part in multiple pre-game drills to get ready for games. He said, “Crosses for me are probably the best thing in the warmup, just because I’m short and getting up there for crosses is a good warm-up for the game.
“We do some volleys back and forth. We practice grabbing the ball through our legs, rather than on one knee,” he added.
Holden noted that it can take a toll on goalkeepers mentally when they make a mistake or have a bad game, but that keeping the right mindset can make that easier. He said, “I think for any player, it’s easy to get caught up in the past, but you just have to keep a clean slate. It’s all about what you can do in the future, not what you’ve done before.”
Goalkeeper Mikey Walker, a freshman on the men’s soccer team, said he began playing goalie in middle school. “I started in the fifth grade - my stepdad got me into it.”
Walker said his inspiration for being a goalkeeper is Manuel Neuer, who plays for German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the German national team.
He said his favorite save occurred when he was playing club soccer. “I made a top-corner save that skimmed my fingertips. I would say that would be [my] best.”
Walker’s favorite thing about goalkeeping is turning back the shots from his opponents. He said, “I love shot stopping. I love saving the ball.”
He said the most challenging thing about goalkeeping is the distribution of the ball to his teammates.
Walker likes to keep a clean slate mentally going into every game. He said, “I just forget the past. There’s no need to worry about the past when you can just move forward from the game before.”
Men’s soccer Head Coach Adam Gabbard said goalkeeper is a unique position. “In the soccer world, we all say goalies are a little bit crazy. You’ve got to have some loose screws.”
He said a mix of leadership and skill is what he looks for in a goalkeeper. “We love to have a goalkeeper that’s incredibly vocal and communicating with everybody in front of them, which is a really important part of the position.
“It’s important for our keepers to not only be able to save shots and do all the things that a normal keeper would do, but also be able to play with their feet - almost be our first attacker,” he added.
Gabbard reflected on his team’s goalkeeping situation, in which three different goalies have started three or more games this season. “I think we’re in a little bit of a unique situation. This year, we have two younger goalkeepers and then a transfer who’s new to the group.
“However, I think these three guys have leaned on each other a lot and haven’t been afraid to communicate,” he added.
Gabbard said the biggest sign that a goalkeeper is improving is playing with more confidence and not letting mistakes get to them. “The big thing is just that they’re confident and they trust the guys in front of them.
“I think our guys have done a really good job to build each other up when they do concede. … That's been a big part of our ship staying afloat so far. We’ve done a good job building each other up when there are mistakes,” he added.
Goalkeeper Madison Magone, a junior on the women’s soccer team, started playing soccer at age 5 and began goalkeeping in the second grade.
Magone said her younger sister is also a goalkeeper. She enjoys watching her play and tries to emulate the good aspects of her game.
Magone’s favorite save came against Clark University earlier this season. “[The ball] was going in the upper 90 and I got my arm right up and dove for it.”
She said she practices correct form and technique for diving. “We work on reactions or tips over the net. It just depends on if we have a game the next day.”
Magone’s favorite pre-game warmup is explosive diving. She said, “It helps me feel like I’m ready for anything. I’m on my toes - just ready.”
The most challenging part of being a goalkeeper for Magone is timing. She said one mistake in timing can result in a goal for the other team.
Magone said her leadership can influence her team’s organization because she has the best view of the field. “If I’m not directing people or letting them know they have someone there, it could really impact the game.”
She said she doesn’t let prior results impact her mindset for future games. “I try to go in with a blank slate every time because each game is a new start.”
Magone said she has overcome her shyness to become a vocal player and leader on the field. “I actually have to be very confident back there in order to control the box. I’ve worked on that a lot.”
Women’s soccer Goalkeeper Coach Alexandra Narlee said, “[Magone] has shown improvement in her confidence, particularly in how she’s reading the field and identifying opportunities for players to provide better coverage for her - really taking ownership of her position as a keeper.”
Women’s soccer Head Coach Michael La Francesca said, “She’s getting sharper. She’s making better decisions. Her soccer IQ is getting stronger, and those are all signs of a good goalie.”
La Francesca said what he looks for in a goalie is a “modern goalkeeper.” He described “a player that not only can play with their hands and understand the angles of attack, but also who can play with their feet and can distribute the ball with their feet just like a regular field player can.”
La Francesca said tough games can be hard to forget for goalkeepers and emphasized the importance of a positive outlook. “Our theory is about keeping them in a positive mindset - staying focused on the positives and not dwelling on mistakes.
“The mind controls the body. If the mind feels good, the body feels good,” he added.
The most important characteristics Narlee looks for in goalkeepers is their openness to improving, communication skills, and being able to take leadership on the field.
Narlee detailed the typical drills a goalkeeper will perform at an FSU practice. “Small dives, jumping, high balls, things like that. Then we go into more of a realistic gameplay situation … putting them in a position that they might be in for the game and applying those movements to a faster pace.”
To keep her goalkeepers confident after a mistake, Narlee said, “The number one thing is to always tell them, [The ball] got through 10 other people first.”