ROCK SPRINGS – Following two strong seasons protecting the goal for the Western Wyoming Community College (WWCC) men’s soccer program, goalkeeper and Pinedale native Kyle Mivshek is finally achieving his goal to play the sport he loves at a four-year university.

In February, Mivshek signed his letter of intent to play soccer at Multnomah University (MU) in Portland, Ore., after he graduates from WWCC this spring. While in Rock Springs, he studied global studies and communication.

The goalkeeper played two seasons for the Mustangs, competing in 13 games and starting in 12. In those two seasons, he picked up 96 saves and secured a save percentage of .821, ranking him 30^th overall in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Coaching staff at MU noticed Mivshek’s talents on a YouTube video the athlete posted featuring highlights while at the junior college in Rock Springs. Upon discovering the goalkeeper’s talents, coaches kept in contact for a few months before Mivshek made it up to Portland to visit the school and show off his skills in person.

“They approached me and said they wanted me to come up for a tryout,” Mivshek said.

When he was presented an offer to come up and play for the Lions, he had a hard time refusing it and committed to the school that same month. He still can’t believe the opportunity is a reality.

“I was surprised,” he said. “I was super stoked. … It’s a dream come true.”

After graduating from Pinedale High School in 2013, he was happy to move on to play at WWCC but still had the dream of playing on an even larger stage.

“My goal all along was to play at a higher level,” he said.

His father John Mivshek, mother Geralyn Worrell and sister Hannah Mivshek still live in Pinedale. Hannah is a junior at Pinedale High School, while his other sister Rachel Mivshek is a freshman at WWCC and on the women’s soccer team.

While playing at WWCC, Kyle gained valuable experience on the field to sharpen his skills, he said. Now with that added field experience, he’s more than ready to play at the next level.

“It gave me hope to attend the next level,” he said.

His motto when competing is to be “bigger, faster, stronger” and to show leadership out on the field. In addition, it’s his job as goalkeeper to communicate and make sure his team is all on the same page and playing cohesively. He also relishes the opportunity to make things happen as the last line of defense to stop offensive pushes at the goal.

Kyle is currently working down in Texas for the summer and will move up to Portland at the end of July to get ready for his first season with the Lions.

One of the most exciting aspects to joining the new team is being a part of a relatively new soccer program.

The Lions compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a Division I school and are part of the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The university added a men’s soccer team to its list of athletic programs back in the fall of 2014, so the team is currently working to build up a strong, competitive soccer program that Kyle is eager to be a part of.

“They have a new program and I would like to help build something there,” he said.

The team plays in the fall season, so upon his planned arrival this July, he will jump right into the start of his first soccer season with the Lions.

He says he is eager to get up to Portland to start working with his new teammates and testing the waters of playing soccer at a bigger school.

“I look forward to competing at a higher level and to succeed, stand out and be a starter,” Mivshek said. “I’ve always had a passion to follow my dream and all my hard work is finally paying off.”