Perseverance In Between the Goal Posts

For most people, when a soccer ball comes flying directly at their face, they have the good sense to move out of the way and avoid getting hit. But for Georgia Gwinnett College women’s soccer goalkeepers Rirei Sasaki, Eva Norris, Elle Sarter and Ulrike Duyck they’re ready – and expected – to do, exactly, the opposite. 

All four goalkeepers began playing soccer at a young age but did not transition to being in front of the net until a few years later. Their shared passion for the sport and the position led them to GGC’s nationally ranked program.

Sasaki has made the farthest journey to Lawrenceville, learning to play goalkeeper in her hometown of Chiba, Japan, where soccer was played year-round under strict regulations. She quickly grew an appreciation for the position.

Duyck agreed, remarking, “It’s a big responsibility to be a goalkeeper, because no one else can jump up with their hands and try to catch that ball.”

Duyck’s soccer career began playing alongside boys, alternating with others on played goalkeeper in a game. When it was her turn, she excelled at the position.

“I thought it was fun,” Duyck states. “My mom didn’t really like it as much.”

The secret behind being a good goalkeeper is their technique – a trait that’s drilled into the players over and over again. For Norris, a junior transfer from NCAA Division II Quincy University (Illinois), that technicality is the best part of the position and something that’s much more prominent with overseas players rather than those that learned the game in the United States. 

“Coming (to GGC) and playing with a bunch of international students, you get to see the actual footwork and proper technique with the position,” Norris says. “It’s great. I prefer it a lot more.”

The No. 22-ranked Grizzlies have had three different players start at goalkeepers this season. Sasaki began the first four matches; Sarter has been in front of the net for three of the past four matches; and Norris posted a shutout in a victory at Point University (Georgia) on September 16.

And just like with any position on the pitch, the game action comes with physical hurdles. However, a goalkeeper is on the pitch for the full 90 minutes of each match, and possibly more, depending on overtime sessions.

So, the position offers a true test of physical endurance and personal drive.

“You get a lot of bruises on your hips and on your knees,” remarks Norris. “And, playing on (artificial) turf burns, obviously.”

Nobody understands that requirement better than Sarter. 

The Bassingborne, England, native has been with GGC since 2024. She made nine saves in helping the 2025 team score an upset against top-ranked SCAD Savannah and was named the CAC’s Defensive Player of the Week in two of the first three weeks of the season.

That’s before Sarter found herself in a difficult position last September during a team practice session. She was unable to perform the correct technique to catch a misfired ball by a teammate. She attempted to reach up with her hand, but was caught at an awkward angle, causing her wrist to bend backward.

Her wrist was fractured in two places – a medical diagnosis that ended her season. 

Surgery came during last April and Sarter then faced a long road to physical recovery.

“My first training session was at home,” she states. “I remember diving across the floor for the first time and getting up and realizing I was going to be bruised on my hip!”

After 11 months being away from the soccer field, Sarter was officially cleared to play and made her 2026 debut with a start on September 5 against St. Thomas University (Florida). She played all 90 minutes and made four saves in helping lead the team to a 2-1 victory.

Georgia Gwinnett College, which has a 4-4-0 record this season, has the luxury of having four quality goalkeepers. They add to a proud legacy at the position throughout the program’s 15 seasons.

Ayano Kurosawa earned third All-America team honors in 2024 and Matilda Johansson helped the team win four conference titles during her five seasons at GGC. Sophie Hoare and Elisa Randel split time as goalkeepers when GGC made its deepest NAIA postseason appearance, with a Round of 16 finish during the 2018 season.