Overcoming a Goalkeeper's Worst Moment: Luke Mathieu

Luke plays for Byron High School and, perhaps most notably, is a life-long Watford fan. Luke opens up about a frustrating goal in the regional semi-final, how he’s tried to put it behind him, and a shining moment, despite the scoreline.

What was one of the worst moments in your playing career as a goalkeeper?

It was a regional semifinal on a miserable night. About 40 degrees with 25mph wind gusts. The opposing player started an incredible run from midfield and dribbled down to the right-hand side of my goal. He puts a looping cross into the box and the original trajectory of the cross is around the penalty spot. I take a step towards the spot to gather the rather routine-looking cross. That's when the wind took over and nestled the ball perfectly off the post into the corner of the goal. I was devastated that a rather routine-looking cross turned into the best goal of the year in my area.

How did you overcome the setback?

It was hard. We had played pretty well against a superior team and this goal broke my heart because we had 5-10 minutes of the first half left to keep them out and go into halftime with a tie game. At the halftime talk, I came out and tried to immediately forget about that mistake and encouraged my teammates around me that we were still in the game. That mistake was always in the back of my head for the rest of the game and we had trouble playing out of the back because of it. We stayed in the game for a long time, finally conceding two goals in the last 10 minutes on counterattacks after we sent out fullbacks further up the pitch.

I have not been able to change my routine in a competitive game yet because I haven't played a game since but I did adjust a couple things in my routine for my next training sessions and goalkeeper camps. I taped my fingers in reverse order. Instead of taping them from the thumb to my pinky, I did the opposite. I also have been thinking about a different warm-up routine before a game once I get there in a couple weeks, which I will implement when it comes.

What was one of the most successful moments you experienced as a goalkeeper? (This does not have to be related to the first question, although it can be. Simply recall a highlight of your career! It can be on or off the field, but ideally related to being a goalkeeper in some capacity.)

We were playing on a Saturday two hours away. Everything was going wrong that day. We left at 7 in the morning and we're stuck in traffic for about 45 minutes before finally getting to the field. We were playing a 3A school compared to us being 1A (meaning we were significantly smaller than the other team). They were so much better than us and not to mention, it was another miserable day. Pouring rain and 40 degrees. I promptly came out and made 26 saves during the game and only gave up 3 goals, when it should have been closer to 10.

Why was this moment was so important to you? Although there may be an individual or team award/accomplishment tied to this moment, please include the intangible aspects as well. Consider how the achievement made you feel and why it was so impactful. *

This was important to me because of the focus I had throughout the game. I could not afford to lose concentration or we would have lost by three times the margin we actually did. There were a couple saves I was really proud of that kept my team in the game at 1-0 and 2-0 down and in range of staying competitive with a team that was three times as better than we were. It gave me the confidence to talk more to my defense and lead the team in several different aspects. As a sophomore, this was huge for me and it catapulted me forward to have a really good rest of the year.

(We reached out to the coaches at Rock Island High School for video of the game but they never got back to us which was frustrating for me, especially after having that good of a game.)

Overcoming a Goalkeeper's Worst Moment: Brandon Miller

Brandon Miller is the starting goalkeeper for the Charlotte Independence, as well as the 2015 USL Goalkeeper of the Year. After a stellar 2015, Miller struggled to regain his form throughout the 2016 season. Read about the frustration of the difficult season, how Miller refocused himself, and a highlight from last season that Miller will “never forget”.

What was one of the worst moments in your playing career as a goalkeeper?

I won't say I had one specific moment that was the low point but the 2016 season was definitely one of the lowest points of my soccer career. I was coming off the best year of my career, having won a championship and almost every individual award I could. I went to Orange County with big expectations and instead of building off of a successful 2015 season, I struggled to find any type of form. I made mistake after mistake in almost every game I played. I can't pick just one poor performance from that season. My confidence was extremely low and I dreaded playing at that point in my career.

How did you overcome the setback?

After the 2016 season, I spent about two months away from soccer trying to sort my life out. When I finally signed with another team, I made a promise to myself to focus solely on soccer and put in the extra work I needed to get back to the level I knew I could be at.

Confidence comes with experience. Consistent repetition is a good way to build confidence. From the first day of preseason, I was doing extra work every single day after practice. Regardless of if we had two or three sessions that day, I made sure I was analyzing my game and working on the areas that needed improvement. I also had to be honest with myself and figure out why my confidence was so low in the first place. I put more emphasis on my mental health and gaining the mental strength necessary to perform at a high level on a consistent basis.

What was one of the most successful moments you experienced as a goalkeeper?

Beating NCFC 1-0 in our last game of the season in 2020 to secure the top spot in our group and our first playoff appearance in years. I had a pretty solid performance, making a couple key saves in both halves to keep the score 0-0. Running the length of the field in the 90th minute to celebrate our goal and playoff birth is something I will never forget.

Why was this moment was so important to you?

This moment was so special for me for many reasons. I was raised in Charlotte and I understand the rivalry with NCFC. We had struggled to beat them in previous seasons so to clinch our playoff berth on their home field was something special. Putting in a good performance and leading my team to the top spot in our group was another reason the moment was so important. As a leader, you always want to put in the type of performances you can be proud of and that was one of them.

Overcoming a Goalkeeper's Worst Moment: Lauren Watson

Lauren Watson is a Texas Tech alum and former professional goalkeeper, playing for Keflavík FC (Iceland) and Assí FC (Sweden). Before heading to Europe, Watson was a three-year starter for the Red Raiders, capping off her senior year with NSCAA All-Central Region and First Team All-Big 12 honors. Watson discusses the difficulties of playing overseas, how she pushed through the challenges, and a bright memory from her time in Lubbock.

What was one of the worst moments in your playing career as a goalkeeper?

There were many ups and downs as a goalkeeper but one that stood out to me was my last season in Sweden. Playing overseas can be tough for many reasons. There is always going to be a language barrier and you are flying across the world to play for coaches and for a team that you have never met. When I arrived in Sweden, I was the only goalkeeper and I had no goalkeeper trainer. We did have a young 14-year-old goalkeeper that trained with us, however the level of competition was not appropriate for a goalkeeper this age.

It was tough to train without a proper goalkeeper trainer throughout the entire 9 months I lived in Sweden. There were countless practices that I had to “warm myself up” and I was either having to tell our assistant coach or another player on the team what kind of warm-up I needed before games. This even put a damper in my mindset before practices and games at times. Although our team was very talented and had successful moments, there was no trust between coaches and players. This was something I was foreign to after building trust and communication with my college team.

How did you overcome the setback?

Unfortunately, this was one that was tough to overcome only because there was only so much I could do. Most things were out of my control and I was under contract. I would say that my positive mindset through adversity playing overseas is what got me through this tough time. I contacted a local goalkeeper trainer in the small town I was living in and requested additional one-on-one sessions. Any training with someone who has previously been a goalkeeper helps tremendously.

My American roommate, Rebekah O’Brien, (she is still playing overseas in Sweden) was a great resource for me to have conversations with. There were also times that we would do extra training before practice, after practice, and sometimes on our off days. I’ve learned that you have to make the most of every situation whether it is good or bad!

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What was one of the most successful moments you experienced as a goalkeeper?

Throughout my years as a goalkeeper, I learned that successful teamwork requires open communication, trust in each other, and selflessness. If each individual member of the team can demonstrate these qualities, there will never be a “losing” moment. I believe these qualities are especially important as a goalkeeper because our position requires us to lead from the back.

I put in countless hours of training on and off the field during my first two years in Lubbock and I was able to make a name for myself and show my team that I was the right person for the job. In my redshirt sophomore year of college we had a conference game against UT (University of Texas). This was a very tough game and this was another Texas rivalry team that we played every year. This moment stands out to me because my teammates witnessed how much I was willing to do to help the team be successful. Although we ended up losing this game in overtime, I showed my team and my coaches that I have these qualities. It was through my positive communication and sacrificing my body to prevent the other team from scoring that my team knew they could trust me as the last line of defense. This eventually led to extremely successful moments with my team during my college career at Texas Tech. Not only did we win the Big 12 Tournament in 2015, defeating West Virginia, who was ranked number 2 in the nation at the time, but we also advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament the previous year in 2014.

Why was this moment was so important to you?

The amount of work you put into being a selfless teammate, the more your teammates will notice. This pushes others to show their selflessness and become the best version of themselves on the field. This is so important for a goalkeeper because if your teammates work hard and sacrifice for you, the chances of the other team beating you becomes extremely slim. For example, your defender chases down an attacker that is dribbling directly at you with no one around but at the last moment your defender is able to make a clean tackle to prevent the attacker from having any chance of scoring. That is true selflessness!

Overcoming a Goalkeeper's Worst Moment: Bobby Edwards

Bobby Edwards first wrote for Everybody Soccer back in the summer of 2016 for the college player journal project, which had collegiate goalkeepers detailing their experience within their respective programs. Since then, Edwards has traveled the world to continue his professional career, playing for Portadown FC in Northern Ireland before coming back to the US with FC Cincinnati. Heading into the 2021 season, Edwards recently signed with Indy Eleven and although he is prepping for the upcoming season, he took time to talk about a low moment in his career, how he overcame the setback, and a highlight from his time overseas. Cover photo from the Daily Record.

What was one of the worst moments in your playing career as a goalkeeper?

Second game in the MLS for Cincinnati playing home against D.C. United. I made a poor choice to come for a cross I didn't need to. Ended up slipping & dropping the ball for an easy tap in and we'd go on to lose the game 2-1. For me, this was my first time failing on a national spotlight, where I would leave that game and face the backlash of ridicule that comes with it. More than anything, the most gutting feeling was that of letting down my teammates. That my failure wasn't just mine alone, but that I had dragged my teammates down with me.

Skip to 2:27 to see the play


How did you overcome the setback?

To answer this one, I think it's best to break it down into 3 parts: the immediate, the rest of the match, & the 72 hours after that.

The immediate: Exactly what it sounds like - the play has just happened. You realize what just occurred and the emotions begin to pour in. This portion is probably the most overwhelming emotionally and mentally, you'll feel about 5000 thoughts racing through your head and feel all eyes on you. In this moment, inside you'll feel like you wish the ground would just open up and swallow you whole. At least I did. Unfortunately, this is also the moment in which, more than ever, you'll need to control your emotions the most. Whether you like it or not - the camera loves failure. Every time a goalkeeper makes a mistake, you will be guaranteed to see a close-up camera angle of the goalkeeper as they relish in their error. It's cruel, but it's the difficult reality.

This is the portion I think I handled the worst. Because while the camera is guaranteed to be giving you the most ill-timed close-up shot, it also gives you an opportunity. It allows you to make a statement with your body language, your response - even if inside you feel awful. That split second can set the course for the rest of the game. In my case, I let my emotions get the better of me, hiding my face in my shirt & allowing my internal emotions to dictate my external presence. Instead, I wish I had been calmer, almost stoic. This is SO IMPORTANT for so many reasons - but biggest of them all, it reflects to your teammates that you are still mentally checked into the game. When your teammates see you losing control of your emotions behind them, it becomes a contagious negative energy that can completely alter the flow of the game.

The rest of the match: Play resumes and your mistake is now cemented on the scoreboard. The eyes shift off you for the time being and you are left alone with your own thoughts of what happened. It is at this point in which you must consciously make the decision to not think about it - even though your brain will make every effort to remind you of your mistake. If I can offer you one piece of advice, the piece of advice I used in my experience - let it be this: force your thinking brain (the thalamus) to drown out your emotional brain (amygdala).

Your thalamus is the part of the brain that handles sensory information (sight, touch, sound, taste, and smell). It handles everything you are currently experiencing in this exact moment. Your amygdala, on the other hand, is responsible for emotional responses, "fight or flight" as it is commonly known. In moments like these, your amygdala is unfortunately not your friend. The easiest way to do this is to speak. Make an extra effort to communicate to your backline, even if it is more so for your own good. When you speak, you are actively using your thalamus and blocking yourself from dwelling on what just happened. Breathe. Focus on full breaths. Force yourself to stand upright and keep your shoulders back. While your brain is an amazing thing, it can actually be pretty stupid too. Studies have proven that you are able to trick your brain by physical actions. Use this to your advantage. And most importantly: DO NOT CHASE THE GAME. Don't alter your play style to try and force yourself on the game. I promise you this will only make things worse.

72 Hours After: This will vary for everyone in their own personal situation. If you are lucky enough to find yourself on the winning side when the final whistle blows, the reality is that your mistake will be mostly forgotten about. However, if you aren't as lucky and find yourself walking away defeated, your mistake will unfortunately overstay its welcome in your and others’ minds. To overcome it, I suggest addressing the team post-match in the locker room. No need for some long, drawn-out speech. Just take ownership of it and set the tone moving forward.

Finally, after a prolonged period of time of holding back emotions, you can ease off and allow yourself to vent without concern for whether or not a camera will be in your face. Speaking to loved ones, a good reminder that there is much more to life than just soccer, helped me tremendously. There will probably be messages from friends giving you the old "keep your head up" line, which although was sent with good intentions, can often just serve as a painful reminder of your error. I just responded with appreciation of their support and didn't allow myself to dwell on it.

Perhaps above all, stay off of social media. Delete the apps if need be. Keep your mind busy and force yourself to think about things other than soccer. Then, when the time comes for your next training session, emphasize the importance of positive energy. Greet those you see with a smile and keep your body language upbeat. This is harder than it sounds & I personally could have done better with this. The way in which your teammates will engage with you is all determined by how you initiate the interaction. If you act like a wounded animal you will be treated like a wounded animal. If you act like it's just another day, so will your teammates. Finally, remind yourself of some wise words my friend Spencer Richey once told me, "Bobby, it's just soccer."

What was one of the most successful moments you experienced as a goalkeeper?

While playing in Northern Ireland with Portadown FC, we were chasing a league title on the road against Newry City FC, another team in the hunt for a top 3 finish. It was a Friday night game and perhaps the coldest conditions I have played in. Frost was covering the field as we walked out. As if the pressure of a road match during a season in which every single game could determine the outcome of the season wasn't enough, my goalkeeper coach from back home had flown out to visit me & was in attendance. The first 15 minutes were terrible. We found ourselves on the back foot immediately, pinned in our own half and being second best to everything. The ball was zipping across the pitch and in the slick conditions it was incredibly tough to get a good grip anytime I had the ball in my hands. We found ourselves down 1-0 early off a penalty and the opposing fans behind me grew increasingly louder with each minute.

At halftime, we got a deserved ripping-into from the manager and took the field to try and salvage something from the game that had arguably been our poorest performance to date. It was in that second half which I found the greatest success of my career. We set the tempo immediately, beginning to play the ball around like we normally would and found the spark that had been lacking in the first half. We responded and found ourselves netting two goals to take control of the game. In the closing 10 minutes of the game, they sent a dangerous cross into the box that found the head of an opener striker, forcing me to claw one out of the corner. It is always great to make a big time save but that moment, in that game, was truly the best feeling I've experienced in my career. We'd go on to win the game 2-1 and eventually the league title.


Why was the successful moment was so important to you?

This moment was so important for so many different reasons. Obviously, it is an important win that saw us stay atop the table and in pursuit of the league title. But more importantly, it showed character about the squad and the ability to go against the tempo of the match to succeed. It is easy to experience success when everything goes right, but in times where you find yourself pinned with your back against the wall, the ability to claw your way out is vastly more telling about both an individual and a team’s mentality. Everything about the game was against us: the conditions, the venue, the poor start to the game. That intangible moment to overcome times when things aren't going right for you & force your way to success is the difference between lifting a trophy at the end of the season or coming up empty-handed.