It’s tough to put an emphasis on how much senior goalkeeper Jordan Godsey meant to NIU men’s soccer over the past four years; the guy has been a rock in between the posts.

In the past three seasons Godsey started a total of 54 matches for NIU, starting every game he has played in, and recorded 26 shutouts.

This—his final season—was a special one for Godsey, as he broke Marcus Roy’s (1988-1991) career shutout record grabbing his 27th career shutout in a 0-0 draw against Rhode Island on Sept. 7.

Godsey finished the season starting all 20 games, with nine shutouts, allowing 22 goals with a 1.05 goals against average. He had 90 saves on the season with a .804 save percentage.

Godsey played his last game as a Huskie in NIU’s 2-0 loss to the Akron Zips in the MAC Tournament Championship game. The Ocean Springs, Miss., native said the feeling is still very bittersweet.

“I wish it went a little longer but everything has to come to an end,” Godsey said. “To be honest, I don’t know, it just happened so I feel like I’m still part of the team, but you still know you’re not going to be playing anymore. It really hasn’t hit me yet that I’m not playing anymore.”

Godsey’s athletic ability is one of his strengths. He is able to make the incredible, acrobatic saves that you see on TV but he also has the strength and poise to stand strong and not panic when things aren’t in his favor.

He rarely fumbles a save and he is a strong goalkeeper when it comes down to stopping penalties, most recently saving a penalty in the MAC Championship to keep the score 2-0.

In a recent news conference, coach Eric Luzzi said Godsey is one of the best goalkeepers he has coached and deserves to go onto bigger things.

“There is no way around it, Jordan is big time,” Luzzi said in a news conference. “Jordan deserves to be playing at the next level next year and the number of games he’s kept us in this year is astounding actually.”

Fellow senior Mike Mascitti said playing with Godsey has been one of the bright spots throughout his own NIU playing career.

“Hands down the best goalie I’ve ever played with,” Mascitti said. “There is just a level of comfort, composure and confidence he brings on the field. Being a center back I never really worry when we are getting pressed or if there is a shot from outside the box because I always know Jordan finds a way to be in the right spot. He will come up with big saves even when our backs are against the wall and they are putting balls into the box, he just finds a way. He’s one of my best friends on the team and it’s just been fun being with him for four years.”

Currently Godsey isn’t sure what the future holds, but he knows that whatever happens he will have a degree to fall back on.

“I’m going to get my degree and graduate in the spring,” Godsey said. “Maybe something happens in soccer. If something doesn’t happen then I have my degree to fall back on it. I really don’t know yet, it just happened [the season ending] so I haven’t gotten any calls yet, so we will see if something happens in the future with soccer.”