Finally, area high school goalkeepers can take a deep breath. Soccer sensation Olivia Woodson is moving on.

The Monacan High dynamo was a goalkeeper’s worst enemy for Monacan High, netting 55 career goals and 26 this past season alone as a senior.

The scoring sensation was at her best against the best, recording nine goals against elite competition in four Region and State matches.

“I’ve been coaching Monacan soccer, boys and girls, for 20 years and Olivia is the best I’ve had,” said Coach Sean Hollingshead.

“She really played at a different level than the others.”

And she’s just warming up her kickin’ feet.

The gifted 18-year-old daughter of Tonya and Milton Woodson (former Jefferson-Huguenot-Wythe/Norfolk State football player) will continue to kick up her heels on scholarship at Auburn University.

She committed to the Southeastern Conference school last summer following a strong showcase performance for the powerful Richmond United travel team.

Among the other Division I programs offering her substantial scholarships were West Virginia, Mississippi State, James Madison, Howard and University of Richmond.

“I heard about Auburn through a friend and actually contacted the associate head coach (Ben Madsen) myself,” she said from her new dorm room on the Auburn campus in Alabama.

“I told him what I could bring to the table. He came to watch a few United games and I committed before my senior year.”

Tigers’ fans won’t have to wait long to see her test rival goalies. College soccer is a fall sport and Auburn’s season begins in mid-August.

Woodson’s Monacan scoring totals might have been even higher. Her freshman season was wiped out by COVID.

The Chief striker tallied 15 goals as a sophomore, 14 as a sophomore and an oh-my-gosh 26 this year, leading the Chiefs to the Region 4B title and State quarterfinals. She also had eight senior assists.

Never blinded by the playoff lights, she scored three goals against Atlee, three against Eastern View, one against Hanover and two against Great Bridge.

The 26-goal total tied the Monacan one-season record set by Emily Wells.

There was never a thought of play- ing JV or riding the varsity bench when she arrived as a freshman.

“As soon as we saw her, we knew she was a starter,” said Hollingshead, who was JV coach at the time.

“It’s not just her straight-ahead speed. It’s her quickness with the ball that sets her apart.”

Woodson and the Chiefs excelled despite having no home-pitch advantage. The Smoketree Subdivision school’s football field has been under construction while being converted from grass to turf.

The Chiefs practiced and played home games this season at River City Sportsplex, some eight miles away. The state quarterfinal (a Monacan “home game”) was played at Clover Hill High.

There is a long list of credits beside Woodson’s name.

She was Region 4B Player of the Year, first-team Class 4 All-State, Chesterfield Superintendent’s All-County and Monacan Senior Athlete of the Year.

To the relief of Monacan rivals, her goal-scoring heroics are history.

Now it’s Auburn’s opposing netminders that may be nervous.