Soccer goalkeeper named ICCAC Athlete of the Week
This DCTC News story was originally published October 7, 2021. The story is republished today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.
Abbie Gotham, 19, a sophomore at Dakota County Technical College, was recognized as the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Athlete of the Week (September 6–12) for NJCAA DII Women’s Soccer. Abbie plays goalkeeper and forward for the Blue Knights women’s soccer team at DCTC.
Abbie Gotham
“Abbie is a multi-tooled soccer player,” the ICCAC reported. “She put on her usual keeper attire and went to work in net against the DIII Rochester Yellowjackets. She helped DCTC to a 3–0 win, coming up with nine saves over the course of 90 minutes.”
ICCAC added that the victory was Abbie’s first shutout of the season as well as the first time she didn’t need to deliver double-digit saves.
“Gotham has 66 saves in five games in net this year [as of September 8],” the ICCAC noted. “Later in the week, she was asked to play forward against the Lake Superior Ice Hawks. She flourished, scoring four goals in the 7–3 win.”
Lake Superior College game
Academic journey…
Abbie is majoring in Individualized Studies at DCTC. She’s also earning a Supervisory Leadership certificate.
“I chose my major at DCTC because I currently do not know what I would like to do for a career,” she said, “but I know I am interested in going to a four-year college after I graduate from DCTC. Completing my Individualized Studies Associate of Science (A.S.) is a way for me to get my generals out of the way. I chose the Supervisory Leadership certificate because everything in life is a business—and being able to lead helps with all aspects of life. I believe this major is a good foundation for me in my school career.”
More about Individualized Studies at DCTC…
The Individualized Studies Associate of Science (A.S.) degree enables you to custom-design a program to meet your educational and career goals that you could not otherwise accomplish through existing college programs.
This A.S. degree program is for you if you’re:
- Seeking to explore potential occupational/technical courses in one or more areas of study
- Working and wish to advance your career
- Undecided about your future
- Planning on earning a baccalaureate degree
- Studying in a technical program, but wish to change direction
LEARN MORE…
More about Abbie…
Originally from Mendota Heights, Minnesota, Abbie graduated from Henry Sibley High School, Class of 2020.Abbie’s dad, Steve, is the owner of Gotham Tax Service. Abbie’s mom, Karla, teaches German and science online at Minnesota Virtual Academy.
Abbie has one sister, Angela, 20, and two brothers, Andrew, 18, and Aidan, 15. Angela works at the family Tax Office; Andrew is a full-time student at Inver Hills Community College, and Aidan is a student at Two Rivers High School.
Abbie has two personal pets, her 1-year-old dog, Oliver, a bluetick coonhound and Australian shepherd mix, and her snake, a caramel-colored corn snake named Shelby, who is 3 years old.
“Also, in my household we have four cats, Tigris, Lucky, Ron and Harry,” Abbie added, “and my mom’s dog, Georgi, and her axolotl [paedomorphic salamander], whose name is Axel.”
In her free time, Abbie enjoys training Oliver, singing, dancing and lifting at the gym. She works as a lifeguard/swim instructor at the YMCA and is just starting taekwondo. Abbie resides in Mendota Heights.
One word that best describes your experience at DCTC:
PANDEMIC
Abbie Gotham Lake Superior game gallery
Abbie Gotham • Q & A
Abbie Gotham
What do you love most about playing collegiate soccer?
What I love most about collegiate soccer is the healthy competition with the other teams, and the close bonds with my teammates.
What is your greatest strength as a soccer player?
My greatest strength as a soccer player is my bravery. I do not back down from breakaways or let fear get in the way of doing what needs to be done.
What is the toughest part of being a goalkeeper?
The most difficult part of being a goalkeeper is the pressure. I feel personally responsible for the goals that were scored against my team while I was in net. It is an important skill as a goalkeeper to see mistakes as learning opportunities and grow from them, rather than let them take away from the positive things that were accomplished.
Three words that describe you as a soccer player:
COMPETITIVE. HARDWORKING. VOCAL.
What save during a Blue Knights game do you remember as your best so far?
The save that I remember most from our current Blue Knights soccer season is the last save I made in our away game versus Rochester Community and Technical College. We were winning 3–0, and it was the last minute of the game. Players from both teams were crowded in front of the goal—and the ball was shot to my bottom, left-hand corner.
I was set, got my body behind it and made a save to maintain a shutout vs RCTC. This was very exciting as last season in the spring we were only able to get one shutout.
What advice would you give high school students thinking about playing college sports?
The advice that I would give to high school students who are thinking about playing college sports is this: If you love the sport, and the commitment is not too much (school comes first) then join the sport. It is a fun way to stay in shape, and it is a good community of teammates who grow into friends.
What person has influenced your life the most and why?
The person who has influenced my life the most is my mother. She has always been my number one supporter. She has been at every home game we have had, and she spends hours listening to me talk about how the game went for me, what I am thinking of the next game and how badly my body hurts.
She is there to pick me up after hard losses and celebrate with me after big wins. She was never interested in soccer before I randomly decided I wanted to play, but now she watches pro soccer games with me and just knows when I need new gloves.
She is extremely supportive of my decision to continue playing soccer at a higher level, helping me send emails to coaches and looking online at rosters. Without my mother’s support and influence, I would not be the player I am today.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
In 20 years, I see myself working at a job I love, living in a house with my family, helping to coach my kids in soccer and maybe even playing in some way on my own. I see myself in 20 years being social: hosting game nights, barbecues and planning fun trips. Most of all, in 20 years I see myself being happy, loving life, and being proud of my accomplishments.
Three words that describe you as a college student:
INQUISITIVE. SOCIAL. OPEN-MINDED.
Abbie Gotham Healthy Knight 5K/1 Mile gallery
Abbie Gotham • 12 Answers
- Favorite sport or physical activity: Definitely soccer; I also like lifting at the gym.
Place you would most like to visit: I would most like to visit Germany; I took four years of German in high school and my mom is a German language teacher.- The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: I took a surfing lesson on Folly Beach in South Carolina; I was the only person in the class who was able to ride a wave all the way down.
- Three things you would do if you won a $1 billion lottery: 1) Invest so I will never have to worry about running out of money 2) Help my mom to pay off her student loans 3) Donate to orphanages, research for diseases and other organizations
- Favorite TV show you’re watching now: My favorite TV show of all time is Doctor Who.
- Time period you would explore if you could time travel: The Renaissance—I love the art styles and the fashion; it would be a fun adventure.
- One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Be happy—when I am at my end, I want to look back and know I lived a happy life.
Your national bird if you were your own country: If I were my own country, my national bird would be a penguin.- Dream occupation: In my wildest dreams I would be an actress or pro soccer player.
- Person you would most like to meet: —she is currently a goalkeeper for the NWSL team, Orlando Pride, and the U.S. Women’s National Team; Ashlyn recently set a new NWSL all-time career save record with her 469th save during a 1–0 win over Gotham FC—she inspires me.
- Skill you would most like to learn and master: I have a lot of skills I would like to master, one skill being sign language.
- Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Selfishness. There is not enough respect for humans and nature; decency and collaboration are lacking; we are abusing our world and the people in it.
Learn more about NJCAA women’s soccer at DCTC by contacting:
Mark Obarski
Women’s Head Soccer Coach
651-423-8676
Learn more about Individualized Studies at DCTC by contacting:
Scott Gunderson
Business Management Faculty
651-423-8295
Erin Lund
Academic & Financial Aid Advisor
651-423-8278
Abbie making a save
