LAKEWOOD, CO- Just three short years ago,
Jordan Goodman's cleats were collecting dust as her life pulled her away from the sport she loved. Today, she's not only back on the field but serves as a chaplain and leader for the women's soccer team. Beyond the jersey, Goodman's story reveals a person of strong character and faith, whose leadership reaches way past soccer.
From the time she was around two or three, Jordan had a soccer ball at her feet. "I don't even remember why I liked it, I think I just loved chasing after the ball." What began as childhood fun soon became a family bond. Her parents, Jason and Rebekah, both former athletes, set an example of hard work and dedication that shaped her from an early age. Her older sister Libby, a former CCU Volleyball player, also pushed her to compete and inspired her to pursue sports. By middle school, Jordan had made her mind up that she wanted to pursue soccer at the next level.
By her junior year of high school, however, Jordan's lifelong love for soccer began to fade. After years of practices, tournaments, and club pressure, she found herself burned out. "I had been playing for so long, and I was just done," she said. For the first time in her life, she stepped away from the sport that had shaped her. When it came time for Jordan to choose a college, Jordan didn't plan to play sports at all. Wanting to stay close to home but ready for a new environment, she decided to attend the University of Wyoming, where she had family in southern Wyoming. During her freshman year there, Jordan continued to stay active, running and kicking a ball around with friends, but she also began to notice something deeper stirring inside her. "That year, I kind of realized what life looks like without the Lord," she reflected. "Everything the world offers feels so over promising and under delivering." Eventually, after many conversations and prayers, Jordan decided to leave Wyoming. Her sister, who had transferred to Colorado Christian University after a similar experience, encouraged her to make the move. "At that point, I just knew I needed a change," Jordan said. "I was craving home, family, and something real." CCU was the perfect fit for Jordan because it was so close to home, strong in faith, and offered the major that she wanted to pursue.
Jordan grew up in a Christian household, with parents who incorporated their faith into everyday life. "It wasn't just about going to church every Sunday," she said. "They put it into everything we did, which was a huge blessing." For much of her early life, however, her faith felt external, something that she simply practiced around her family and church friends, but not yet her own. Her first major turning point in her faith came during a mission trip in high school to Moldova, where she worked with children and families in extremely difficult circumstances. "It really put things in perspective." Even so, returning to a typical high school routine made it easy for her faith to take a backseat, and faith remained a background part of her life. It wasn't until her first year at the University of Wyoming, that Jordan began to fully embrace her relationship with God. "Every aspect of my life felt so empty without God, from schoolwork to running to friendships," she said. This realization sparked her relationship with the Lord, which she has carried into her time at CCU.
For Jordan, soccer has become a way glorify God. She approaches every practice and game as an opportunity to honor God. "I work hard in soccer not for my own glory, or even just for my team, but for the Lord," she said. Her role as chaplain has also deepened this perspective, guiding her to support her teammates both spiritually and emotionally. "It's about being interruptible, letting God work through me, and focusing on what He wants rather than what I think it should look like," she explained.
After graduating from CCU, Jordan doesn't plan to continue playing soccer competitively, but she envisions staying connected to the sport. "I would love to someday coach one of my kids' teams," she said, laughing. Beyond soccer, her heart is focused on her family. At the same time, Jordan feels a strong calling to serve others through teaching and missions. She dreams of going overseas to teach, whether in schools or through life skills programs for those in need. "Wherever He has me, that's where I want to be." Central to all of her plans is her faith, which she hopes will not just influence her choices but be the core of her identity. "I don't want faith to be just a part of me," she said. "I want it to be who I am, the driving force behind every decision, shaping my desires, my actions, and how I live my life." Faith, for Jordan, isn't just part of her life, it's the foundation that shapes how she plays, leads, and lives, reflecting a life that extends far beyond the soccer field.
