By Ellen McGuire, freshman

As a student athlete, sophomore Sarah Goldsmith has to balance a physically and mentally heavy workload. However, her lifelong passion for soccer has driven her to accomplish many things.

“I’ve played on a soccer team ever since I was able to at 4,” Goldsmith said. “I’ve always loved competing.”

Goldsmith’s hard work has paid off. She is the top goalkeeper in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference and one of the top 20 goalkeepers in the nation. She had nine shutouts this year alone. Last year, the women’s soccer team had 26 goals scored against them. This year, that number has significantly dropped to only nine goals in 17 games.

Along with her impressive soccer statistics, Goldsmith maintains good academic standings as a religion major.

“Sarah knows what needs to be done both on the field and in the classroom,” said women’s soccer coach Victor Garcia-Bebek. “She’s really balanced.”

Before coming to Friends, Goldsmith played on the Augusta High School boys’ soccer team for her first two years of high school before petitioning with other girls to have their own team.

Goldsmith said her determination to play taught her discipline and how to be a self-starter.

“I haven’t had pop for six years,” she said. “I needed every edge I could get to make the boys’ team, so I gave it up.”

When she isn’t playing soccer or studying, Goldsmith is involved in Campus Ministries. As a member of the Youth Ministry Team, Goldsmith and other Friends students travel to local youth groups and high schools to connect and share their stories with those students. She also attends Cornerstone regularly.

“I’m not someone who’s really vocal about my faith, but I try to live by example,” Goldsmith said. “It’s really important for me to incorporate my faith into sports.”

Goldsmith said she likes bonding with her teammates and seeing where they stand with their faith.

She also competes on the tennis team in the spring to stay in shape for soccer and participates in intramural sports like volleyball and basketball.

Goldsmith and the rest of the women’s team will play Bethel College in Newton on Saturday, Nov. 7, for the KCAC quarterfinals championship.