What Makes Someone Want to Be a Goalie? Fatima Ramirez ‘28 Has the Answer

By Anna Fermo ‘28, Big Red Sports Network Reporter 

Soccer is one of the most popular team sports in the world, with 11 players each holding a crucial role. Strikers and wingers, positioned highest on the field, are admired for their speed, footwork, and agility. Midfielders earn praise for their endurance and versatility, skilled in both offense and defense. Defenders are known for their awareness and ability to read the game. But standing alone at the back, eyes scanning every move, is the goalkeeper — a position unlike any other. What makes goalkeeping so unique, and why would someone choose it?

Goalkeepers have one of the most demanding roles on the field. They are the last line of defense between the ball and the net, meaning a single mistake could cost the game. Unlike other players, goalies require specialized training to sharpen reflexes, improve hand-eye coordination, and develop a strong field sense. They must read plays in real time and make fast decisions under intense pressure.

Fatima Ramirez ’28, goalie for Lawrenceville’s girls’ varsity soccer team, knows this mission well. She describes the position as both physically and mentally demanding, noting the difficulty of diving for saves and blocking hard shots. “You have to organize the defense and visualize connections between players before they happen,” she says. “It’s difficult mentally, but the challenge makes you grow.”

For Ramirez, the rewards outweigh the risks. After years of training, she fell “in love with the adrenaline of a close game” and the mental toughness the position demands. She loves being able to change the course of the game, whether by punting the ball upfield to spark an attack or shouting instructions to her defense to form an unbreakable wall.

Being a goalie isn’t about the spotlight. It’s about perseverance, growth, and the comforting thought that, when pressure is at its highest, your team can count on you.

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.