CoCo Goodson

Classroom

Goodson will graduate this year with a degree in sociology and a minor in education and hopes to become an elementary school teacher.

Character

Goodson has a tremendous work ethic that has helped her become a dominant soccer player on the field. Tasked with mentoring the younger players, Goodson was named a team captain during the spring season. The squad will look to her fierce competitive drive, her understanding of what is required to be successful on the pitch and to her ability to lead and keep the group focused on its goals. Off the field, she is reserved, quiet and family oriented. Goodson transferred from the University of Texas to share her college experience with her family, which lives in San Diego. Goodson is empathetic and relates well to young children which will serve her well as a teacher.

Community

Goodson is extremely involved in the community, having participated in AYSO clinics and the “Soccer for Hope” children’s cancer charity clinic. She has also served as a camp counselor at UC Irvine, mentoring young soccer players. Goodson has also been involved in outreach projects with her church, helping to collect clothing donations for the homeless in her hometown of San Diego and participating in a food drive that sent over a million meals to Tanzania.

Competition

Goodson was named a 2010 NSCAA/Performance Subaru NCAA Division I All-America first team honoree, becoming one of UC Irvine’s first two All-Americans in the 27-year history of the program. Also voted the 2010 Big West Defender of the Year, Goodson helped the Anteaters record 19 wins, tying a conference mark for most overall victories. The team also collected its first Big West Conference regular-season title, becoming the first team in conference history to go unbeaten and untied at 8-0-0. She was also honored on the Soccer America MVP Second Team and despite being a defender was voted a Big West Offensive Player of the Week and honored on the TopDrawerSoccer.com National Team of the Week after scoring a pair of game-winning goals in two games. Goodson was second in the Big West in points with 18, putting away nine goals and was first in the conference with five game-winning goals. In Goodson’s first year starting as a defender at UCI, the Anteaters posted a school-record 11 shutouts and held opposing teams to a 0.75 scoring average. UCI received its first NCAA Tournament bid last season and also hosted the first three rounds of the tournament for the first time in program history. The Anteaters also became only the second team in Big West history to advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament.