By Jack O'Marra
Coordinator, Sports Communication

KINGSTON, R.I. - One of the most important aspects of life is setting and executing goals. Personal, professional, or educational. For Daniel Goba, the ultimate goal was always the focus: to play soccer for the University of Rhode Island.

"It was always the goal growing up," Goba said. "It was a goal coming out of high school, but the cards didn't align for me back then. I was like, I'll take a chance on myself now."

The North Kingstown native arrived on campus in the summer of 2025 as a transfer student from Salve Regina University, where he spent two seasons. In his first four games with the Rams, Goba netted two goals and played 186 minutes, earning two starts. Goba's hard work had paid off, and he was achieving his goal of playing at the state university.

Until it came crashing down.

In September of 2025, Goba was rushed to the hospital, and doctors found a lime-sized tumor in his brain. He had to have emergency surgery to remove the tumor. Goba had to deal with not only the emotional weight of a diagnosis and a procedure of such magnitude, but also having his dream swiped away from him so quickly and with such gravity. So, he stuck with the one thing that got him to this point.

"I think you don't really know how you're going to respond to something as life-changing and something as terrifying as finding a tumor in your body, in your brain," Goba said. "So for me, it was like, I needed something to cling to. And for me, it was like, I'm going to cling to soccer."

It was a natural reaction. Goba found a love for soccer in his youth and has not looked back since. It was the one sport that really stuck from a young age.

Goba attributes his support system for helping him get through the initial shock factor of the diagnosis and everything afterwards. Family, friends, coaches, and teammates were all there for Dan right from the beginning.

"When that happened, we got guys leaving the game to come visit me in the hospital," Goba said. "It's like an overwhelming amount of support. Guys didn't even know me before. So, the fact that they were right by my side so quickly. Just friends I'd met through the school, the coaches; guys I had known in high school. I got here a month ago, and now I'm in this situation. Everyone just showed up for me and was there throughout the process."
 
So, thus began the road to recovery and getting back on the field. Five months later, Goba returned to the game that got him through the most difficult part of his life.

"I always set really ambitious goals," Goba said. "For me, it's like, if you don't get there, bummer, but now it's back to work. You get there, it's like, 'Nice. Now what?' So, I think that's something that's always kept me hungry. I'm never really complacent. I wanted to prove to myself and to everyone else that I could come back from something as traumatic as that and still play at a high level."

Goba was able to compete with the Rams during the spring training season, and even suited up for AC Newport, a new team in the tier 1 premier level NPSL. Now Goba continues to work towards getting back to his standard of play.

This was the hardest challenge for Goba, though his journey to this point was no kick around either. Just three months prior to the discovery of the tumor, he embarked on making the very rare jump from Division III to Division I. Often players go from Division I down to Division III because the level of physicality is a tougher adjustment. Not for Goba, even on a very tight turnaround.

Goba had a solid freshman campaign at Division III Salve Regina – five goals and four assists in 18 games played. But to him it was a disappointment. He wanted to perform better.

"I felt like I could do more. So, I really, really buckled down," Goba said. "I got in the gym, I got bigger, I got stronger, worked on my finishing, and at that point, going into my sophomore season, I felt confident. It took one game. I think it was against Johnson and Wales, up in Providence, and I scored a goal, and I was like, 'This is it. I'm going to turn this around.'"

During his sophomore season, Goba racked up 14 goals and five assists, nearly tripling his goal total and doubling his points from his first season. The confidence and poise were coming together again for Goba, and he began to realize he had what it took to make the jump.

It was summertime, and the opportunity to achieve his original goal arrived: to play soccer at the University of Rhode Island. Goba decided in mid-July to commit to Gareth Elliott's squad, just two weeks before training began.

Goba focused on keeping his mind right and his body healthy. Two extremely important things. He prioritized these, which allowed him to make the transition a lot smoother. The play was faster, but he had the baseline of physicality and knew what sort of players and challenges he'd be up against.

"I think I came in really confident because I always knew I had the ability to make the jump," Goba said. "I played against Division I guys in high school. I played against Division I guys in college and summer league. I knew I was right there with them. So, I was ready."

Goba made an impact right away for Rhody, and things had finally taken shape for him, but going back to high school, he was not a sought-after player like many of his Seahawks teammates. His recruiting process was not very formal; in fact, there wasn't much of one at all.

"I was playing a lot of different positions, so the recruiting process wasn't that simple for me," Goba said. "I didn't really have a lot going to the Division I level. I think I had one offer, but it was a school that didn't fit for me. And then, one of my buddies said, I heard Salve [Regina] is pretty good, and it's a cool school, and you should see if that would work."

Goba ended up reaching out to the coaching staff at Salve Regina on his own accord. He filled out a recruiting form and stayed in touch. After a strong senior season with North Kingstown High, Goba reached out to the Salve coaching staff once again, got on board for an overnight visit in February, and committed the next day, over three months after signing day.

"I think at that point Division I was kind of out the window. So, it was kind of like, all right, let's go here. I like the guys," Goba said. "I like the culture they created there. And Division III is still a good level."

Time after time, Goba went through great lengths to achieve his goal, it was not as easy as just showing up and having it happen for him. It was about putting in the work, and that is the same message and sentiment he looks to share with the future players who follow a path similar to his.

"I'd say to bet on yourself to do challenging things and go 100 percent on it," Goba said. "Don't have one foot out the door. You've got to go for it, bet on yourself, invest in yourself, and don't shortchange yourself. Work hard. I think working hard is something that will get you really far as an athlete and as a person."

Now it's time for Goba to bet on himself once again. Only this time he's not only focused on getting back to where he was before as a player, but also on pursuing his newfound passion of being a leader and even coaching the next generation of players.

Goba and the Rams continue their 2026 campaign on Saturday, when they take on Duquesne to begin Atlantic 10 play at 7 p.m.