Gray Willson, sophomore goalkeeper for Colorado State soccer, has introduced a new level of competitiveness to the Rams.
Willson transferred from Miami, where she originally committed to play out of Del Oro High School in California, to Colorado State in the spring. She played one season for the Hurricanes, starting six games and allowing 11 goals, with a save percentage of 0.656.
Originally, CSU sent an offer to Willson out of high school but didn’t land her. However, those ties to CSU came back up in the transfer portal.
“Coming out of high school, going through the initial recruiting process, this was one of my top choices as well,” Willson said. “I obviously ended up going a different route, but I’m very blessed that the Lord brought me back to this program. Because I do fully think this program has saved my life — from the coaches, the culture and the players. … This program has a huge impact on my life, and I don’t regret any part of coming here.”
Even though Wilson only transferred to CSU in the spring, she’s been playing like a longtime veteran of the program. So far, Willson has already tallied a save percentage of .829. Prior to the match against Boise State, she was ranked No. 39 in save percentage in the NCAA.
Overall, her confidence has brought a great level of competitiveness to the team and elevated her teammates.
“That is the job of the goalkeeper,” assistant coach Sean Mapson said. “If the goalkeeper is confident in their ability, then the back four read into that, and then if the back four (are) confident in the goalkeeper, that feeds into the midfield. If you have a goalkeeper that is performing confident in who they are, their super strengths and what they can provide, I think that confidence really flows through the team. So it affects everyone.”
With this great performance has come great success.
The Rams started the season with one of their best openings in program history. CSU is 6-2-2 so far and has been playing lights out. The team was ranked No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches Poll prior to playing against Denver, which was the first time in program history the Rams were ranked.
“Obviously I have goals. I have records I want to break. I have goals I want to accomplish, and at the end of the day, if I have a strong back line in front of me, we’re going to be able to win games.” –Gray Willson, CSU soccer goalkeeper
With Willson on the roster, the Rams look like a team that can compete for a conference title.
“I think she’s super competitive,” Kate Dunne said. “I mean, not to say all of us aren’t competitive, but I think she has an extra level of desire to do well, not just for herself but for all of us, which I think pushes other people who might not have that same competitive switch to be more, which I think helps everybody to get better. She’s just an all-around teammate.”
Willson really hit her stride at CSU and has shown the nation that she can be an elite goalkeeper.
Although the Rams originally didn’t win the commitment battle out of high school, they won the war in the transfer portal. With this being CSU’s last year in the Mountain West, Willson is emerging as a cornerstone for the Rams. Willson looks like she has the potential to be something special at CSU and make history for the Rams.
“I mean, I’m super excited,” Willson said. “Obviously I have goals. I have records I want to break. I have goals I want to accomplish, and at the end of the day, if I have a strong back line in front of me, we’re going to be able to win games. But I just (have) got to keep working both on and off the field if I’m going to accomplish what I want.”
Reach Alex Graser at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter at @AlexGraser5354.
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