From Leeds to New Jersey: Scott Godden has settled in quickly in 1st season with Rutgers men's soccer
Freshman defender Scott Godden was still playing for the Leeds United U21 team when he was offered to play collegiate soccer in the U.S.
Godden, who hails from Leeds, England, has played for the academy of Premier League side Leeds United since his youth. He became a mainstay at left back with the U18 squad, making 35 appearances across two seasons in the U18 Premier League.
Godden has also totaled nine appearances for the Wales U17, U18 and U19 teams, appearing in the U19 European Championships qualifications and friendlies.
"The one thing I'm very grateful for is the experiences I've had throughout my career. It's something which not many kids experience," Godden said. "Captaining my nation, Wales, is probably one of the proudest moments of my life. I think every time you put on an international shirt, you do have sort of a weight on you, especially when you're captain, but you get to walk out and have all my family in the stands watching. It was a really surreal moment."
Vertex Soccer approached Leeds and presented the idea for some academy players to play soccer overseas. Godden was instantly interested in the opportunity and decided to make the change.
"(Associate head coach Gavin Wyse) was put straight on the phone to me and sort of gave like an online tour of the facility, and then I organized a visit out here," Godden said. "Once I came to Rutgers and saw the facilities and sort of the project they have going on here, it was something which was very hard to turn down … For me, it was like the perfect fit."
Godden wasted no time settling in with the Rutgers men's soccer team. He started 15 of the 17 games this season and totaled 1,137 minutes, the seventh-most on the team. Godden notched his first career assist as a Scarlet Knight in the season-opening 3-1 win over Northeastern.
Godden credits his time with the Leeds United academy, which has shaped him into the player he is today.
"Even at Leeds, training with the first team quite a lot and being around big players — it just sort of prepares you for big moments in games or if it's a big match not to get overwhelmed with it because you know you've played many good players, and it's just sort of another day in the office," he said.
Godden's 15 starts are the most by a freshman this season, which is something he doesn't take for granted.
"I'm very grateful for the amount of game time I have gotten," he said. "I think the biggest thing for me was sort of coming over here, and if I was given a chance to play, sort of proving to the team and especially the older ones as to why I wanted to earn that game time and sort of earn their respect and trust. I've played a lot of games, and especially in the back, we've built a good connection."
Sophomore defender Devon Stopek has taken Godden under his wing, and the rest of the young backline is just as close.
"Off the pitch, we're a close-knit bunch," Godden said. "They're really nice, down-to-earth kids who have welcomed me and (freshman defender Arnar Adalsteinsson). They constantly try and teach us stuff or if we can maybe help them at times bring in stuff from where we've come from. They've really sort of helped us out and made us one of their own."
After a breakthrough freshman year, Godden wants to be an impactful player off the pitch as well during his time at Rutgers.
"Looking ahead maybe to the next few years, it's more about being a leader," he said. "How can I influence the team more off the pitch rather than on it? How can I maybe treat new guys when they come in, just how the older guys did with me this year?"
For more updates on the Rutgers men's soccer team, follow @TargumSports on X.
To view more of Matthew Mangam's work, follow @MatthewMangam on X.
