Standing tall

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

In a blink of an eye it’s over. Just like that, your college career is coming too an end.

It hard to fathom that just four years prior you were a wide-eyed freshman trying to find her way on and off the field at St. Bonaventure. Here you are from a different country, coming to a small Catholic University in Olean, NY.

You started a lot of games through the first three years, but this year just hits different. It’s your senior year. You want to try and soak everything in. Get every last once out of what it’s like to be a college athlete.

“I want to get the most out of my senior year and enjoy every second. The last three years went by so fast, it’s surreal that it’s almost over. My personal goal is to have another good season,” stated Chiara Gottinger. “I also want to function as a role model for the younger players. I’ve been in their position before and hope to be able to help them out. For the team, I hope that we’re able to improve, play attractive soccer, and maybe reach the playoffs at the end.”

Gottinger has been a standout for the Bonnies since her freshman season. She has played in 51 games for the Bonnies over her three seasons, and has kept the team in games with her numerous big saves.

Last season, Gottinger led the Atlantic 10 in saves with 83 and led all A-10 keepers in saves per game with 5.33. She has been a busy keeper over her three years on the team. She likes it that way, however.


She would rather be busy as it helps her keep focused throughout the game.

“I like facing many shots because it makes it so much easier to stay focused. However, each shot is another scoring opportunity for the other team and therefore additional risk,” stated Gottinger. “Even though I led the A-10 in saves last season, the number of saves I had was much lower than the two seasons before. Staying physically fit during the season is all about recovery. Putting in the work in the training room, stretching, nutrition, and sleep are all important components of staying healthy and fit.”

If you have seen Gottinger play the position you know she plays without fear. As a keeper you can’t be scared when going up for a ball in the box. There are a lot of bodies around, and if someone goes up timid it could lead to injury.

Gottinger takes control of her area. She is calling for the ball when it is in the box, and she let’s everyone know that that’s her area. She knows injuries will happen, and that colliding with other players will happen, but she doesn’t think about that.

And, you can’t. Being fearless helps her get where she is today.

“Repetition and confidence are important. The more comfortable you feel in the box, the more confident you get, the easier it is to dominate your box. Of course, it is scary that you might hit your teammate but this fear is going to hold you back. On the field, you should not think too much because overthinking will lead to mistakes,” stated Gottinger. “Calling out for the ball can also help to minimize the risk of hitting somebody and getting hit. If your teammates know that you’re going for the ball they can keep the opponents away from you and create room for you to get to the ball.”

Keepers also have to be extremely vocal. You will hear them scream out things all the time. Sometimes it’s to get the players to be in the wall the right way. Other times it’s to let the defenders know there is someone on them.

Either way, a keeper needs to be vocal. They just can’t sit back and watch the game unfold. They need to be in the game mentally at all times.

“Building the wall is combined with a lot of chaos. It is important to get the girls’ attention. I make sure that the player on the outside of the wall is facing me while I’m building it and she is following my instructions,” stated Gottinger. “All the other players just have to stand next to her. I think getting the players’ attention is the most difficult part. When they listen you just need clear signals and everything is fine.”

It has been quite the journey for Gottinger. Who would have thought a young girl from Austria would find her way to Western New York. She will always say that St. Bonaventure found her, and that she didn’t find St. Bonaventure.

It has been a match made in heaven for both student and university. She has found her passion in playing soccer, and is on pace to get her degree in sports management. You couldn’t ask for anything more when it comes to picking the right university.

“I always like to say that St. Bonaventure found me. I worked with an agency that helps athletes get in touch with coaches at American universities. One day I received an email from our former head coach and I knew that I would end up in Olean,” stated Gottinger. “I am from a small town in Austria so I never had a problem visiting a small university. I don’t think I had any problems adjusting to my new life at a small Catholic university. The adjustment to college soccer was way bigger. I was not used to playing twice a week, traveling so far, going into overtime (my Freshman year), over the clock running down.”

Now that her time is coming to an end, Gottinger starts to think about her last four years, and even before that. It’s about her journey that started way before St. Bonaventure. It’s about all the friends she has made along the way.

Giving up soccer won’t be that hard. Not being in the local room before the game, meeting up with the girls after, or doing classes, that’s going to be the hard part.

“Recently I’ve been thinking about it a lot, not about not playing soccer anymore, but about the time after college,” stated Gottinger. “Whenever I go home for a longer break it is already weird not seeing my teammates daily. Usually, I am almost 24/7 with them. I live, play, have classes, and spend my free time with them. Not seeing them regularly after I graduated is a strange thought.”