VELE GALOVSKI '83 - 2017 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

Entering the fall of 1979, the Clarkson University Men’s soccer team wasn’t sure where it would turn for its goalkeeper after the graduation of its shared starters four months earlier. The outlook that fall said as much: “The Golden Knights must find a goalkeeper to replace Mark Vaska and Kirk Junco, both May 1979 graduates, if they are to be a contending club ... Rookie Vele Galovski will be a candidate for the starting position in the goal.”
Fortunately for the Knights, Vele Galovski did a little more than fill the void between the posts, missing time in only three games over the next four years en route to becoming Clarkson’s all-time leader in wins (38) and shutouts (28).


In more than 1200 minutes of action as a freshman, Galovski recorded 81 saves, a 1.19 goals against average and five shutouts as the Golden Knights claimed second place in the ICAC with a record of 5-1, but it was in 1980 that Galovski and the Knights truly put themselves on the regional map. That year, Galovski spent 1506 minutes in net for the Green and Gold, posting shutouts in 10 of the team’s 16 games, still a program record for whitewashes in a single season. Galovski truly asserted himself in mid-season, posting four straight shutouts to push the team to 8-1, easily the best start in the program’s 28-year history at that time. Three more shutouts ended the regular season for Clarkson, and the Knights earned one of the 24 coveted spots in the NCAA Tournament, at the time making the men’s soccer program just the second team (hockey, being the other) at Clarkson to gain admittance to the championships.

Though the Knights would lose 4-3 in double-overtime to Binghamton in the NCAAs in 1980, Galovski’s production in goal wouldn’t slow down. With the loss of some offensive firepower after the 1980 season, Galovski was leaned upon more heavily the following two years. He recorded seven more shutouts, including six in the first seven games of the season, and 111 saves in 1981, gaining ICAC First-Team and All-NYS honors, but he had a truly historic season in his senior campaign.

Galovski recorded “just” six shutouts in his senior year, but he was stingy throughout the campaign, allowing only 11 goals in 1497 minutes, the fewest goals allowed per game (0.6875) in program history. Adding in overtime play, Galovski’s goals against average was a miniscule 0.661 and his save percentage was .921. Up until 2016, the goals against average figure was the best in the program’s 60-plus year history, while his save percentage is still the top figure ever at Clarkson.

Only once during his senior year did Galovski allow more than a single goal (he allowed two in the season finale), and voters in the conference, region, and across the country took notice. He earned ICAC First-Team and Most Valuable Player honors, gained another All-NYS selection, and was picked as a Second-Team All-American.

Galovski’s lifetime totals of 38 wins and 28 shutouts (nine more than any other goalkeeper) are the most ever at Clarkson, while his 0.97 goals against average is second best. He also ranks third all-time at Clarkson in saves (414) and save percentage (.868).


Vele Galovski with Clarkson President Tony Collins and Athletic Director Steve Yianoukos