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LU Online student plays on World Cup soccer team

Clarence Goodson, a player on the U.S. World Cup team, lives with his wife, Kelsey, in Norway.

Liberty University Online student Clarence Goodson made his first trip to the World Cup tournament in South Africa this month — as a player on the U.S. team.

U.S. tied with England in their first match on Saturday, June 12 and tied with Slovenia on Friday, June 18.

A defender, Goodson played for the University of Maryland and spent four years in Major League Soccer (MLS) with FC Dallas before playing for the European football club IK Start in 2008, where his performance caught the attention of U.S. World Cup coaches.

A religion major, Goodson said he chose to pursue his degree through LU Online because the online format provides him the flexibility to take courses in his spare time and materials are taught from a Christian perspective.

“Most importantly, Liberty allowed me to further my knowledge of Jesus Christ through their Biblical Studies program,” he said.

Goodson currently lives in Norway, where along with his wife, Kelsey, he travels to churches and camps to share his testimony with young athletes.

Goodson, a 6-foot-4-inch Alexandria, Va., native, began attending LU Online in 2007 to pursue his Bachelor of Science in Religion.

“With my degree, I plan to grow and develop my sports ministry and public speaking [skills],” he said.

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