The Ithaca College men’s soccer team faces a unique challenge this season — choosing among five goalkeepers: juniors Bryson Shaull and Johannes Berghahn, sophomore Brayden Milbrandt, and first-year students Parker Giles and Paddy Eagan. The juniors and sophomore have started on goal.

So far in the Fall 2024 season, Ithaca’s trio of goalkeepers has shared time cohesively. Milbrandt has seen the most action, starting five games with a solid 1.75 goals against average (GAA) and a 3-2 record. Berghahn and Shaull have each started one game, with Berghahn posting a 2.00 GAA and Shaull boasting a perfect 100% save rate across his 128 minutes. Together, the three have a combined 79.3% save rate and helped the Bombers secure two shutouts. The team is 4-3 this season, with the only losses coming to No. 10 Cortland, unranked Hobart College and unranked Eastern University.

While the goalkeepers are always prepared, the final decision on who starts ultimately falls to head coach Garret Eldridge.

“I take into account our upcoming opponents and how each goalkeeper’s strengths align with the opponent’s playing style,” Eldridge said. “Anyone we recruit we can send out there at any time. That’s how confident we are.”

Eldridge said each goalkeeper brings something unique to the table.

“Bryson is long and has the ability to do really well in catching crosses, and we’ve seen him do really well in that facet of the game,” Eldridge said. “Milbrandt is a fearless shot stopper and has done really well on breakaways. He’s good in and around his box. He’s very demanding of the defenders that play in front of him and he’s shown to be a winner. And then Johannes started for us last season, in a season in which we made the Liberty League championship game.” 

Shaull said he started playing goalkeeper at 8 years old, and credits his mother for his early interest in the position.

“My mom played Division II soccer at Millersville University,” Shaull said. “She instilled that in me and gave me a bump in the right direction.”

Because of Shaull’s 6’5” frame, he started out prioritizing basketball, but made the switch to soccer in middle school. He said he made the varsity team his first year at Waynesboro High School and beat out the senior starter that year. 

After high school, Shaull was recruited to play for the Division I University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His first year, he played behind Quantrell Jones, a fifth-year senior who was on the youth national team growing up. The next season Shaull ended up being the second string, but he said UMBC did not have what he was looking for educationally, so he ended up at Ithaca College studying sports media.

Berghahn, a junior environmental science student at the college, joined the program in 2022.

Berghahn’s goalkeeping background is rooted in Wisconsin, where he had the opportunity to learn from mentors and coaches who have gone on to work with professional teams, including Stan Anderson who owns a goalkeeper camp and coached the sub 15 team in a MLS tournament and Jameson Kronser who was an assistant coach for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Milbrandt said his soccer journey began at a young age, influenced by his older brother. He continued playing goalkeeper throughout high school in Connecticut, where he earned recognition as an All-State and All-New England player. Milbrandt credits several influential coaches for his development, including a coach who helped him improve his technical abilities from ages 13 to 15, and former Bombers’ goalkeeper Ian Whitfield ’24, who provided him with ongoing guidance and support.

With three goalkeepers competing for starting positions, the challenge is not just about game-day performance. Berghahn said it is also about staying mentally and physically prepared, regardless of whether he is in the starting lineup.

“Even when we aren’t playing, we are still trying to fine tune ourselves,” Berghahn said. “We are always trying to help the team at the same time. The goalie that is playing isn’t the only one that impacts the game.”

Eldridge said the keepers are always trying to improve either themselves individually or the position as a whole. At practice, the keepers said they are always trying to learn from each other. 

“College soccer is physical, and goalkeepers get hurt,” Eldridge said. “No matter which keeper is starting, there is always a chance that any of them will see playing time. Goalkeeper is a position where defenders and attackers are constantly flying across the box and jumping into each other, so keepers have to protect themselves while keeping the ball out.”

Having three separate goalies with years of experience at a high level gives the team insurance in case of injury. As skill level increases for sports, toughness and strength has to be more than just physical. Milbrandt emphasized the importance of mental toughness and consistency.

“Every practice, every game whether I play or not, I go out and give 150%,” Milbrandt said. “You get 1% better each day. If coach says it’s my week, I’ll go out and start. If he thinks someone else has it, I’m still going to be ready to go, but also ready to lift my teammates up before the game.”

Despite the competition for playing time, Milbrandt said the relationship between the goalkeepers has created a unique team dynamic forged by support and camaraderie. 

“There is no switch up when we leave the field,” Milbrandt said. “We are all boys, if you have a good practice I’ll tell you.”

Berghahn echoed this sentiment, explaining how close-knit the entire team is, both on and off the field.

“We eat every meal together, do activities together, and it’s significantly more than other college programs. It’s a really cool family,” Berghahn said. “No matter what, we always fight for each other and back each other up—whether it’s the goalkeepers or the whole team. Everyone’s a brother to each other, and it’s awesome. It’s a lifelong bond.”

Shaull said the strong connection among the goalkeepers extends beyond training, influencing the entire team’s dynamic. He said their close relationships not only help them improve but also foster team unity.

“We’re like a small friend group within the team,” Shaull said. “Goalkeeping is different from the rest of soccer, so we’re often training on our own. That time together helps us build strong bonds.”