By Jordan Hildebrand ’26, staff writer
On the soccer field, the importance of being a goalkeeper can be overlooked; after becoming the starter for LVC’s men’s soccer team, Ethan Bazydola clarifies the importance and value of his role.
Bazydola, a senior English and secondary education major, has been a member of the men’s soccer team since joining LVC as a first-year student in 2022. The uniqueness of Bazydola’s story stems from his close connection to the role of goalkeeper.
Bazydola has been a goalkeeper since before his time at LVC and has now become the school’s starter, sparking some curiosity among his peers. Students wanted to know what pulled and held his interest in being a goalkeeper.
“I really wanted to play and be a part of the culture; just being on the field was enough for me,” Bazydola said.
Having been involved with soccer all through high school and now in college, Bazydola’s inspiration was always the same: he wanted to be part of and play on a college team.
His aspirations and hopes still pulled him through, even when some argued that being a goalkeeper is for players who lack skill at the game.
“Sometimes you want to play and score goals to feel those highs, but really, I’m happy with what I’m doing,” Bazydola said.
To Bazydola, the difference between being a goalkeeper and being a player is unimportant; he loves what he does and where he does it.
Being a goalkeeper puts him in arguably one of the most important positions for the entire game: the ability to send and receive, while also providing a safety net for the rest of his team.
But the position is not without its challenges. It requires constant patience and attentiveness, something Bazydola once struggled with as someone who has ADHD.
“Being in practice and playing the sport for so long, it has helped me really focus in, not only with soccer but also with school,” Bazydola said.
In a way, Bazydola’s entire team is relying on him and his work. In his game against Muhlenberg College, he saved two kicks, tying his career high for most passes saved.
Bazydola also explained that his skills, honed through soccer, aid him in his college academics and his prospective field as a secondary education teacher.
“Being a goalie has sharpened my patience,” Bazydola said. “As a teacher, working with other teachers and, especially, students requires patience and teamwork, something soccer has given me a lot of.”
On or off the field, patience and focus are two of Bazydola’s greatest strengths, both of which he confidently attributes to his time spent as a goalkeeper.
While some may view the position of a goalkeeper as boring or less valuable than that of other players on a team, Bazydola reminds us of the importance of being a goalkeeper.
“In a way, I am always contributing to my team,” Bazydola said. “Sometimes it doesn’t come, other times I can be the one everyone can rely on…that’s the understated art of being a goalie.”
Truly, the understated art of the goalkeeper is knowing when and how to coordinate your plays, so that when your team falls back on you for defense, you can fulfill that reliance.
“When you can finally capitalize on that save, make that mark and give your team a good kick, then you truly realize just how important a goalie is,” Bazydola said.
Even though the role may seem easy to the untrained eye, Bazydola’s determination and focus on every step made by the opposition put him in a spot where he’s always hitting his goals. Through hard work and unwavering patience, the work of the goalkeeper is a role suited for someone like Ethan Bazydola.
jch008@lvc.edu