Full-time keeper or aspiring midfielder? – Equalizer Soccer

Photo courtesy of Gotham FC

Ann-Katrin Berger is steadfast that the most important part of her job is keeping opponents from scoring. As such, it is also her favorite part of the job as goalkeeper for NJ/NY Gotham FC.

“Sometimes I think she likes to be a midfielder,” teammate Taryn Torres countered at NWSL Championship Media Day. “I think she just likes to do her thing and she likes to express herself.”

“And I don’t blame her,” recently crowned Rookie of the Year defender Lilly Reale added. “Get involved.”

Watching Gotham matches since Berger arrived in April 2024 has been a mix of watching the German make spiffy saves and preventing shots from coming off at all by using her instincts to play an aggressive style. Sometimes that style takes her literally to the middle of the park to snuff out an opponents’ attack—or keep Gotham’s alive.

“It’s shorter connections, so you can cover more space when you do it right,” said Emily Sonnett, who is part of the last line of defense before Berger. “Some people do it wrong, and it’s very exposing. The thing about Ann is with her age and years of experience, she has really nailed it. She’s really good at it.”

Berger, now 35, played goalkeeper and striker until she was 16 before specializing in the position she is now in the conversation for best in the world at.