Their time has come: Ohio State’s men’s and women’s goalkeepers making immediate impact in their first season as starters

Dylan Buganski, Bridget Lombardo
Thu, 03 Sep 2026 02:18:35 +0000
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Ohio State men’s soccer goalkeeper Patrick McLaughlin (1) kicks the ball. The Buckeyes beat Virginia Tech 1-0 on Aug. 20, 2026. Ohio State women’s goalie Peighton Northrup (1) blocking the sun. The Buckeyes beat Kansas 1-0 on Aug. 20, 2026. Credit: Cassandra D’Angelo | Sports Photo Editor.

For Ohio State’s men’s and women’s starting goalkeepers, patience has been a virtue.

Seniors Patrick McLaughlin and Peighton Northrup have each had to wait three seasons before earning their spots as starting keepers for their respective teams in the 2026 season.

Now, with both teams ranked in the top-10 nationally three games into the season, McLaughlin and Northrup have capitalized on their starting opportunities to start the season.?

McLaughlin opens starting tenure with clean sheets

A soccer goal gives an opponent 192 square feet to aim for—24 feet between posts and eight feet from the ground to the crossbar.

For McLaughlin, that space comes down to one number: zero.

Three games into the season, that’s how many goals he’s allowed.

McLaughlin has helped the Buckeyes open the season with three shutout victories, skyrocketing Ohio State from unranked in the preseason to No. 4 in the country.

“I try to be as calm as possible, especially in games when it can be really hectic,” McLaughlin said. “I like to be the goalie you can play out [through] to make it easy for my defenders.”

After arriving at Ohio State injured and redshirting his freshman season in 2023, McLaughlin played nine games in 2024 while splitting time with former goalkeeper Max Trejo before making just one appearance in 2025.

While McLaughlin waited for a larger role, head coach Brian Maisonneuve said the talent was always present. The difference now is consistency.

“We’ve always seen the talent in [McLaughlin],” Maisonneuve said. “But he’s come in [this season] as fit and sharp as he’s ever been, and he’s maintained it. While he’s had little dips in the past, this year he’s been very good to excellent all season long.”

That consistency has translated into three clean sheets, two more solo shutouts than he recorded over the previous two seasons combined.

McLaughlin credits Ohio State’s defense, who have limited opponents to just 19 shots on the season compared to the Buckeyes’ 97.

“They’ve been playing amazing, so I give all credit to them for everything they’ve done so far,” McLaughlin said.

But Maisonneuve said McLaughlin’s impact goes beyond just saves, as his presence behind the backline has prevented opportunities before they develop.

Even when opponents have gotten through, McLaughlin has answered.

“When [McLaughlin’s] been called on, he’s had to make some big saves,” Maisonneuve said. “That just gives the whole team confidence.”

With most of the season still ahead, maintaining that success means approaching each game on its own.

For McLaughlin, the next match begins 0-0 no matter what has happened in the previous 270 minutes.

“Mistakes as a goalie are pretty punishing since you’re the last man back,” McLaughlin said. “So you kind of have that goldfish memory where [you] make a mistake, let it go, reset and then get ready for the next one.”

Northrup’s patience paying off behind the net?

After three seasons of waiting behind goalkeeper Molly Pritchard, who set the record for most shutouts in Ohio State’s program history, Northrup is now the Buckeyes’ last line of defense.

Through the team’s first three games, Northrup has not wasted the opportunity.

She has helped lead the Ohio State women’s soccer team to a 2-0-1 record on the season and a No. 8 ranking nationally. Northrup has held opponents to only one goal through these three games, a feat only two other Ohio State goalkeepers have accomplished in the last decade.

“I’ve always been prepared for this moment,” Northrup said. “Now that it’s here and we’re at full speed we are ready to go.”

Northrup showed off this preparation, securing shutouts against ranked opponents Clemson and Kansas. She highlights the team’s communication and holding shots to a minimum for their stout effort in these matchups.

“Coming out of the gate, a low percentage of shots on goals and having any goals in general is something we wanted out of our backline,” Northrup said. “Communication is a big thing for us and holding each other accountable.”

While it was difficult to be patient in earning her time in the net, she credited her teammates and head coach Lori Walker-Hock for holding the mindset of keep working hard.

“It wasn’t always easy,” Northrup said. “I had so much support from my teammates and coach always told me my time was coming.”

Northrup is unique in the current state of college athletics, as instead of hopping in the transfer portal she decided to wait her turn. Walker-Hock credited her mindset while sitting behind Pritchard and how it has made her ready for the moment.

“There’s a tendency that if players don’t play right away, they just hop in the transfer portal,” Walker-Hock said. “I credit her willingness to learn and grow, and now stepping into this important role with a level of maturity.”

The practice has paid off, as she has made 14 saves in the team’s first three games, already claimed a Big Ten co-goalkeeper of the Week Award and holds the highest save percentage in the Big Ten among all starting goalkeepers.