FOR BRANDON GOODWIN, TOYOTA PLAYER OF THE GAME HONOR “MEANS A LOT”
(January 20, 2009)
by Danielle Findley
As if being crowned a national champion at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions wasn’t enough, New Westminster Salmonbellies midfielder Brandon Goodwin has another honor to celebrate: being named the Toyota Player of the Game in the elite division national championship game.
Goodwin, who scored three goals in the championship game victory over Maryland Lacrosse Club, felt the honor just added to elation of his team’s big win.
“It was a great feeling,” says the senior. “The gold medal was great, the award was great, and to be the first to repeat as national champions, it all means a lot.”
While the team was all-smiles after hoisting the University Cup, the players admitted it wasn’t always like that during the game, as the team trailed Maryland Lacrosse Club for much of the contest.
“[In] the first half, we were all just dead tired, and we had to get our legs going,” admits Goodwin. “Our heads weren’t quite into it.”
But Goodwin, one of the New Westminster captains, helped get his team going with a speech during the halftime break.
“He told us that we came all the way down there to do one thing, and that was to win,” says New Westminster senior attackman Tyler Digby. “Our effort and the way we were playing, it wasn’t our skill that was struggling, just our play.”
After scoring his first goal of the game with 9:20 left in the first half, Goodwin helped his team rally when he scored his second goal of the game midway through the second half to cut his team’s deficit to one, 6-5. But it was his third goal of the game, the game-winner, which will be the most-remembered tally of the tournament.
With a minute left, the score tied 7-7, and the ball in their possession, the Salmonbellies called a timeout and set up a play. As the clock ticked down to 20 seconds remaining, the team started to run the play, only to have it break down moments later. That’s when Goodwin found himself open from 12 yards out, with nine seconds left in a tie-game.
“We had a play going in but it sort of fell apart, so Brandon went around the net from the left-hand side of the field, came into the high-post area, wound up and just let it go,” explains New Westminster senior midfielder Jordan Catton. “I don’t know exactly if he aimed for a post or not, but he just shot it so hard that the goalie couldn’t stop it.”
While Goodwin’s three-goal performance in the Toyota Championship Game was impressive, his coaches and teammates are quick to point out that Goodwin contributed in all of the team’s seven games.
“He was a consistent player throughout the whole weekend,” says New Westminster head coach Jarrett Bradley. “You always have your go-to guys on the team, and he was one of those guys who, in key situations, was on the field.”
During the three-day tournament, Goodwin recorded 13 goals and four assists.
“I don’t think he had a bad game at all during the tournament,” says Catton. “If he had a bad shift, you could see it in his face, but he would go back out and work even harder. He always pulled it back in, so that was a good show by him in the tournament.”
Brandon’s brother, New Westminster sophomore Justin Goodwin, appreciates his older brother’s performance in the national championship game.
“This was actually the first year I have played with him, but he’s always played with intensity,” says Justin. “It was exciting to watch him because he knew he had to score, and he really stepped up.”
While many lacrosse fans are just learning about Goodwin and his style of play, there is one person who, for many years now, has seen just how talented the 17-year-old is.
“Brandon is a really good player,” says Digby. “His motivation and his heart, just the way he plays is amazing. I’ve played with him since we were 10 or 1l years old, and he always seems to step up in the big games and play really well in the big tournaments.”
By coming through in the clutch, Brandon Goodwin has now won a national championship…a gold medal…and an MVP accolade to his credit.
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