2023 sees six goalkeepers among the Australian ranks in NCAA Division I as the days of a solitary custodian appear to be well behind us. Two freshmen and a junior college transfer join three returning players, with the six players spread across the nation from California to Maryland, and across many varying levels of team.
Shivani Battaglia (Sophomore, Central Michigan, Perth)
A junior college transfer from Seminole State in Oklahoma, Shivani Battaglia excelled at the two-year level before making the jump to NCAA Division I for the remaining three years of her college career. Part of a Trojans side that reached the NJCAA Division I Tournament in 2022, Battaglia appeared in 19 of the team’s 22 contests, starting in 18 of those to eventually finish with a record of 13-2 and a goals against average of 0.99 per 90 minutes played. The Western Australian now joins a Central Michigan side in desperate need of defensive improvement after finishing 2-11-5 and keeping just one clean sheet in 2022. Intriguingly, of the four goalkeepers on the roster, three have significant starting experience in college: two for Central Michigan, and Battaglia at the NJCAA Division I level. What this means for the preseason battle remains to be seen, but the Western Australian has certainly put herself in a position in which she can make a run at a starting berth. Her new coach is certainly no stranger to getting the best out of Australians, either. Jeremy Groves was head coach at Murray State during Harriet Withers and Nyomi Devine’s time with the Racers, with both of those players excelling and Withers recently being named to the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
Aimee Benton (Freshman, Grambling State, Adelaide)
The third Australian to commit to Grambling in recent years after Priya Gakhar and Ashley Commens, Aimee Benton is one of two South Australian goalkeepers making the move to an NCAA Division I program alongside Pacific freshman Libby Davy. A regular starter for Modbury Vista in recent seasons, Benton heads to Grambling with significant experience facing players with A-League Women experience during her time in the South Australian league system. One of eleven players to sign with Grambling State this season, Benton and her fellow freshmen will be part of a squad looking to go one better than their overtime defeat to Jackson State in the 2022 SWAC Championship game. Intriguingly, Benton is one of three freshman goalkeepers on the roster this season, but sophomore Madison Covey-Taylor started all 23 games in 2022 so will be tough to unseat from her position. However, preseason will be an opportunity for all three newcomers to showcase their abilities and ensure they are the one to be called up should the opportunity present itself.
Isobel Davy (Junior, UMBC, Bungendore)
Injuries have scuppered Isobel Davy’s attempts to establish herself as UMBC’s first choice between the sticks, with two appearances in 2021 her only playing time to this point. Now, under a new head coach following fellow Australian, Vanessa Mann’s departure, Davy gets another opportunity to prove herself, with 2022 starter Morgan McGruder the only one of the four goalkeepers on the roster to feature last season. However, Davy has already been through that process once after earning a debut start in 2021, and bouncing back from injury will only have steeled her resolve. Goalkeeping was a strength for UMBC last season as they continued their improvement from their two-win campaign of 2019-20 to post consecutive five-win seasons, and if Davy can prove that she deserves to at least split playing time with McGruder, that alone will be viewed as a huge positive for both the Bungendore product and the Retrievers program.
Libby Davy (Freshman, Pacific, Adelaide)
The first Australian to play for Pacific since Ellie Papalexiou (2014-17), Libby Davy heads to Stockton as one of two freshman goalkeepers on the Tigers’ roster alongside senior Juliana Alexander. A former member of the South Australian NTC program, Davy has since spent time with West Torrens Birkalla, making 14 first team appearances in 2022. Part of a three-member goalkeeping cohort, the trio has just one combined collegiate appearance, that coming courtesy of Alexander. With that in mind, Davy and fellow freshman Hannah McFarlane will surely come into the season optimistic that there is a place for them if they can win the preseason battle as the goalkeeping spot has clearly yet to be locked down by any one player. With Brenna Crump’s performance between the sticks one of the absolute highlights in an otherwise unremarkable 7-3-10 season in 2022, replacing their star custodian will be crucial to the Tigers’ hopes in 2023, giving Davy a massive opportunity in her first season in Stockton.
Talia Grossman (Junior, USC, Palo Alto)
Following three years of injury since starting college, Talia Grossman has been forced to bide her time at USC to this point. However, with four years of eligibility still up her sleeve, the California-raised American-Australian now enters a battle for playing time alongside English freshman Hannah Poulter, sophomore Hannah Dickinson, and Colorado transfer Bella Grust, who occasionally started for the Buffs and may have the inside running heading into preseason. However, it is sure to be a battle for the spot between sticks as USC look to not only replace their starting goalkeeper but also atone for last season’s first round loss to UC Irvine in the NCAA Tournament. That loss came off the back of a 2-0 win over local rivals and eventual national champions UCLA, and the Women of Troy will know they can make a far deeper run in 2023.
Chantelle Symes (Sophomore, Southern Illinois, Sydney)
Injury interrupted Chantelle Symes’ first season at Southern Illinois, but the former Brisbane Roar goalkeeper has the talent to force her way back into the side in 2023. One of three goalkeepers on the roster, competition will be fierce for playing time amongst Symes and her fellow shot-stoppers, following the departure of last year’s starter, Maddy Alaluf, following her senior season. Encouragingly, Symes did earn the opening day start in 2022, and hopefully 2023 brings about a similar start to the campaign as the Salukis look to improve on last year’s 8-5-4 record under a new head coach in Graeme Orr following the departure of Craig Roberts in April, who was placed on administrative leave midway through the 2022 season. Alaluf’s goalkeeping was a major reason why the Salukis were able to reach 8 wins in 2022, but Symes has the ability to continue that trend as the team looks to make further improvements in 2023.
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