Goldman brings fresh perspective and success to varsity soccer

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Photo submitted by: Eli Goldman

Freshman Eli Goldman powers through a Boys Varsity soccer game, jumping up to kick the ball back in for his team. “Eli is very driven…towards our team goal of winning and also towards playing his best,” senior Dean Isaacson said.

Running around on a green grass field and kicking a ball into the goal has been a part of freshman Eli Goldman’s life since he was 6 years old. Now, during his debut year on St. Paul Academy and Summit Schools Boy’s Varsity soccer team, he is the leading goal scorer for the team. But how did he get there?

Goldman began his soccer career playing recreational soccer at Lyndale Farmstead Park in Minneapolis. At the age of 8, the earliest age travelling soccer is available, he started playing for Minneapolis United. He is currently playing on the Boys U15 premier team. One of his fondest memories of soccer was from the club team he is currently on. “We won state 4 years in a row. It has made us all like best friends,” Goldman said.

High school soccer has been a completely different experience for Goldman. As a freshman playing with seniors, he now faces a whole new level of competition. Intimidation wasn’t an issue for long, though. “Everyone was really welcoming to me, especially the seniors. It was easy to be part of the team,” Goldman said.

Along with being welcoming, his teammates have made his transition into the Upper School easy. “I already had a lot of good friends from my team so I wasn’t too worried going into the first day of school,” Goldman said.

Goldmans’ teammates admire him. Aside from saying what a great soccer player he is, Sophomore soccer player Colin O’Hern said “he shows people how fun soccer can be.”

Senior Dean Isaacson, another one of Goldman’s teammates said that “Eli is very driven – towards our team goal of winning and also towards playing his best.”

Getting his homework done is a priority for Goldman, and he makes sure he utilizes all of his study halls and free time well. “I like getting all my work done because if I get home late from a game it is hard to focus on finishing homework,” Goldman said.

Outside of his already very busy school and soccer life, Goldman’s favorite pastime is hanging out with his friends. “It’s always very laid back and fun,” Goldman says of the time he and his friends spend together. When he and his friends are together, Goldman says they “chill and do whatever comes to mind.” “Me and my friends eat pizza rolls a lot,” Goldman says with a laugh.

Goldman has been taking everything in stride, from working hard and playing well with his teammates on BVS to balancing school work and soccer. He has high hopes for the season, one of his goals being making the All Conference team.