NAOTB: Ella Goodwin
McKinzie Green, Athletics Communications
Each week, McKinzie Green of 12thMan.com checks in with a newcomer on the Texas A&M soccer team.
This week Green chats with Ella Goodwin, a local College Station product whose father Hunter Goodwin is in the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Honor.
With your dad playing football here, has A&M always been your dream school?
“Yes, especially growing up in College Station. I’ve always felt like an Aggie, and he obviously loved his experience here, and both of my parents are Aggies.”
At what point in the recruiting process did you decide to come to Texas A&M?
“I really didn’t know this was going to be an opportunity or a door that would open for me. Obviously, it was always a dream of mine to be here, but it was pretty late in the game. I had been to a couple of other schools, but I knew as soon as I came here on my visit, this is where I always wanted to go. It was like a dream come true.”
What do you remember most from your recruiting trip to A&M?
“When I came on my recruiting trip, it was actually all seven of the freshmen. It was cool how we all got to be here at the same time. We came for the Auburn game, and it was so fun seeing an SEC environment and winning a big game was incredible to see. Getting a chance to meet my future teammates made it even better.”
When did you realize that you were really good at soccer and could play at the Division I level?
“Later into high school, around junior year, I realized that I wanted to take it seriously. After I had been around girls who were also going to play D-I, I knew it was something I wanted to do, and I didn’t want to stop playing soccer.”
How does it feel going to college right down the street from your high school?
“It’s a lot different than I expected. I’m getting the opportunity to see College Station in a whole new light. There’s my hometown with my friends from high school and the places I went with them. But now I’m here on campus with completely new people doing totally different things. It feels like a new College Station.”
How have you been treated by the upperclassmen?
“They’ve been treating me really well, teaching me the ropes of everything. They’ve been leading by example and showing me the proper way to get ready for the fall season. I have the opportunity to learn the habits and things they do to prepare to have a good SEC season.”
Is there anything specific the coaches have been working on with you?
“Right now, I’m just trying to learn a lot from the expectations of the back line and how to be a good center back for this team. I’m learning from CC (Carolyn Calzada), Quinn (Cornog), and Liv (Olivia Fetzer) on how to be a good defender so I can play in the back line here.”
What is your goal for this season?
“To learn what my role is and make the most of it. Whether that’s being on the sideline or on the field, I’m going to give 100 percent in whatever role I’m given.”
How has the adjustment been from high school to college?
“It’s definitely been a big adjustment. The speed of play is a lot faster than I’m used to, but that’s why I’m here. So, I’ll keep getting acclimated to the speed of the game.”
Who would you say is your biggest soccer inspiration?
“I’m a big Lionel Messi fan. He’s obviously the Greatest of All Time. Or I would say Lindsay Horan, because growing up I always thought I played like her. She’s a bigger girl who played in the midfield and she’s good at winning balls in the middle and she has a gritty attitude.”
What do you think are your best soccer attributes?
”I’m very aggressive and strong and I feel like I’m tough enough to go up against anyone one-on-one. I’m good in the air and at reading people’s habits on the team, so I get used to how I play with my teammates pretty quickly.”
How excited are you to play in front of the 12th Man?
“I’m so excited. I’ve always wanted to be an Aggie and it’s so cool that I’m getting to play the sport I love in the place that I love most. It was surreal putting on my A&M jersey for the first time.”
