Tier 1
Top D1 / Power-5
SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12-equivalent starting potential. Distribution accuracy above 84% with sub-1.0 GAA is the modern Power-5 floor.
Position Benchmarks
Goalkeeper: D1 / D2 / D3
Per-90 benchmarks for goalkeepers in NCAA women's soccer. Goalkeepers are the only position where the recruiting math is straightforward — one starter, one backup, no rotation; the rest is film, distribution, and command of the box.
Per-90 performance benchmarks
Five core goalkeeper metrics. Save % and distribution accuracy together separate D1 keepers from everyone below — shot-stopping alone isn't enough.
| Metric | D1 mean | D1 σ | D2 mean | D3 mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Save Percentagesaves ÷ shots on target faced | 78.5% | 5.2 | 75.0% | 72.5% |
| Goals Against Averagelower is better; per 90 minutes | 1.10 | 0.45 | 1.35 | 1.55 |
| Minutes Per Goal Allowedhigher is better | 81.8 | 25.0 | 66.6 | 58.0 |
| Distribution Accuracy% of distribution to a teammate | 76.0% | 8.5 | 68.0% | 62.0% |
| Crosses Claimedaerial wins per 90 | 2.80 | 0.90 | 2.20 | 1.80 |
Tier alignment
Where a player slots in once you have her Z-score.
Tier 2
Solid D1 / top D2
Above-average starting potential at mid-major D1 or top D2 programs.
Tier 3
D3 / NAIA / lower D2
Average collegiate. Developmental programs.
Competition multipliers
Most goalkeeper stats (save %, distribution %) are inherently relative to opponent shot quality; competition adjustments matter most for GAA and minutes-per-goal-allowed.
| League / Competition | Multiplier (M) |
|---|---|
| ECNL National / US Youth National Team | 1.00 |
| Girls Academy (GA) | 0.95 |
| ECRL / Development Player League (DPL) | 0.80 |
| NPL / Elite State Leagues | 0.70 |
| High School Varsity (competitive state) | 0.65 |
| High School JV / Recreational Club | 0.40 |
Physical gates
Goalkeeper is the position where height matters most. The published D1 mean is well above the outfield average.
| Division | Height range |
|---|---|
| D1 | 5'7" – 6'0" |
| D2 | 5'6" – 5'10" |
| D3 | 5'4" – 5'9" |
| Marker | Typical D1 |
|---|---|
| Standing reach (fingertip) | 7'2" – 7'8" |
| One-step vertical leap | 22" – 28" |
| Functional cross-claim ceiling | 9'4" – 10'2" |
Goalkeeper: deep dives
Spoke articles unpacking specific dimensions of the goalkeeper profile.
Save % by division
D1 78.5%, D2 75%, D3 72.5%. Why volume changes the read.
Distribution accuracy
D1 76%. Why coaches watch your feet more than your hands.
Highlight reel, and what to cut
Opens with 1v1 + distribution. Closes with box-organisation.
Height by division
D1 5'7"–6'0". How reach + vertical override raw height.
From Brava
Put her numbers next to these.
Every Brava profile comes with these benchmarks, set against her own stats.
See a sample profileSources
Collegiate Women's Soccer Performance Benchmarking Report. GK reach figures are derived from D1 keeper height bands and typical standing-reach ratios; treat as an order-of-magnitude reference, not a published distribution. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Please link back to bravamade.com/research/benchmarks/goalkeeper.