Gloucester HS soccer star AJ Goller dedicated to making his dreams come true
GLOUCESTER, Va. — From a tiny teammate out on the Gloucester Parks and Rec fields to a key player on a state team earning a spot traveling internationally, AJ Goller is dedicated to making his dreams come true as an elite soccer player.
What began as an opportunity to get her young son active, socialized and able to burn some energy, soccer has now become an important part of their lives, says AJ’s mom, Beth. As they look ahead to his future, they are excited to know the tradition of seeing him play and supporting his team is able to continue. AJ, a senior at Gloucester High School, has earned an offer to continue his athletic career this fall at Christopher Newport University.
As AJ’s mom reflects on the impact of soccer in their lives, she recognizes the unexpected family they’ve made over the years with AJ’s teams. “When AJ was 11, his dad passed away from cancer. Our soccer family supported us so much during that time; I don’t know what we would have done without them! I’m forever grateful for the friendships we’ve made through soccer.”
Just like his mom, AJ has a true love for his sport that goes beyond his admiration and dedication to the game itself. He shares, “While there’s no better feeling than scoring a goal or making a good tackle, the memories and friendships are what I love. Due to soccer, I have been able to travel to France, Denmark and across the entire country with some of my closest friends. I have grown up with my teammates. We’ve shared countless laughs, tears, losses and wins. The bonds I have been able to make will last a lifetime and I can’t thank the sport enough for giving me my second family.”
Being a dedicated athlete means pushing through hurdles and challenges. For AJ, his greatest challenge is the mental battle during gametime. “It forces you to develop your ability to handle stress, recover from mistakes and push yourself to your absolute limits. Personally, when I’m struggling mentally I like to tap the end of my fingertips with my thumb and repeat in my head the phrase “what is important now.” This allows me to not dwell on the past or current pain I am feeling, but instead inspires me to keep giving it my all,” says AJ.
AJ works tirelessly to battle those inner struggles while on the field, but he recognizes even his moments where he slipped up over the years have taught him invaluable lessons. AJ shares his reflection about one of the moments, “During one of my games, I became flustered and committed a foul on my opponent out of anger. Unfortunately, they scored right after and we ended up losing the game because of it. I learned that making a mistake is not important; how you respond is.”
Beth is her son’s biggest fan and is incredibly proud of AJ’s perseverance and determination. She shares about her son, “When he’s presented with a goal, he rises to the challenge. I’m proud of all of AJ’s accomplishments and I know his dad would be too!”
It isn’t just AJ’s mom who recognizes his dedication and skill. His varsity soccer coach, Craig Raines, describes those same qualities. “As a coach I see AJ having the ability to read the game extremely well. He is a smart player which is a huge asset. Having that along with his relentlessness makes him fearless. His work rate is top notch and he is such a talented player. This all makes him a force on the pitch,” says Craig.
AJ’s talents are not just based in his ability on the field, but also in how he interacts with and respects his teammates. “Being a team member has taught me a number of meaningful things. I have learned to communicate effectively, how to be a leader, collaborate, listen, make bonds and what true happiness feels like. The feeling of accomplishment by reaching a common goal with some of your closest friends is unmatched. You feel on top of the world. You feel untouchable. Without being a team member, I would never have been able to learn what that special feeling feels like,” shares AJ.
For the youth of Gloucester who might be striving for success, on or off the field, AJ shares the best piece of advice he ever received–of course given to him by his role model, his mom. He says, “She told me I should “never forget where I came from but never forget where I’m headed” and taught me that no matter my past mistakes, I should not let them define who I am. I learned to use my experiences as a guide to lead me on the path to reach my dreams.”
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