Back on the Goalkeeping Saddle

Dagoberto Romero is relishing every moment of the Georgia Gwinnett College men’s soccer team’s 2026 season. He will be hanging up his goalkeeping gloves for good someday, but he’s grateful to be back on the pitch in his hometown stopping opposing shots after a freak injury on his family’s horse farm forced him to the sidelines nearly 18 months ago.

Eighteen LONG months ago.

Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he helped lead the Grizzlies to the second round appearance in the NAIA national tournament, Romero had all the confidence in the world until a soggy April day in 2025 caused a tumbling fall that changed everything.

Romero was doing his daily chores on his family horse farm in Gwinnett County, Georgia, when he took his horse, Lobo, for a leisurely stroll, just like he had every day. However, on this particular journey, Lobo became spooked and bucked Romero out of his saddle to tumble onto the hard, unforgiving ground.

The veteran rider looked up and watched in horror as the horse slipped on the mud and came crashing down toward him. He was able to move slightly before the massive weight of the horse fell directly on his right arm, breaking the wrist.

Soccer and especially playing at the goalkeeper position have always been important to Romero.

“My dad (Jorge) was a goalkeeper and I was always following him. I heard how the crowd would go crazy whenever he would make a top save or deliver a perfect pass, and I wanted to experience that,” says Dagoberto.

His journey to becoming a member of the Grizzlies’ nationally ranked program was a long and winding story.

Training at the Atlanta United Academy between 12-18 years old and being recognized as one of Georgia’s top young goalkeepers opened doors for him to play at collegiate soccer programs throughout the state. He started out playing at NCAA Division I Georgia Southern University before transferring to Division II Georgia Southwestern State University.

However, something just didn’t feel right and Romero took his playing skills to GGC. He was familiar with the college’s successful program from former GGC goalkeeper Lewis Sharpe, who trained Romero at the Atlanta United Academy when he was 13 years old. Sharpe helped put Romero in contact with Head Coach Steve DeCou before the start of the 2024 season.

Romero earned second-team Continental Athletic Conference honors in 2024 when he posted an 11-6-2 record in goal with five shutouts, 51 saves and a 1.31 goals against average. 

“I had a good season in 2024 and we were coming off a national tournament appearance. That spring we played a match against the Atlanta United’s USL2 squad and I played the whole match,” he states.

Then the freak off-the-field injury wiped out all but one brief appearance late in the 2025 season.

“The day I got hurt I didn’t think I would ever step onto the soccer field again,” he admits.

Family, friends, coaches, and teammates helped him get through the two surgeries on his right wrist and challenging physical rehabilitation process following the 2025 injury.

He always kept things in their proper perspective and was determined to get back onto the pitch for the Grizzlies. He was back between the team’s goalposts in preseason practice for this season and was once again starting for the second match, a 5-1 victory against Northwestern Ohio University on August 27. Since then, Romero has a 4-4-0 record and made 29 saves when facing several top 15-ranked opponents.

The business management major adds, “The support from the family and loved ones helped me get through that difficult time. I am trying to give my all in my senior year.” 

Romero will be one of seven players recognized in pre-match festivities before Senior Night on Saturday, October 17, as GGC hosts the Thomas University (Georgia), beginning at 5 p.m.