After graduating from Christian Brothers High School (Sacramento, California), Goldthwaite played college soccer at the University of Notre Dame from 2001 to 2004.

Goldthwaite was selected 17th overall in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes but was loaned to the Portland Timbers of the USL First Division during his first year.

Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, Goldthwaite moved to the Houston Dynamo for the 2006 season and saw sporadic time on the back line.

He then helped lead the Red Bulls to an unlikely appearance in the MLS Cup Final, playing in a back line that yielded one goal in three playoff matches.

Goldthwaite was unable to recover from his injuries during the 2010 season and was waived by New York on August 6, 2010, to make room on the Red Bulls roster for new signing Rafael Márquez.