Lax Goalie Rat Podcast

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In this episode, Damon sits down with pro lacrosse goalie Logan McNaney for a deep conversation about his journey from picking up a goalie stick as a kid to playing at the highest levels of the sport.

Logan shares how he first found his way into the cage, the importance of developing your own style as a goalie, and how positioning and movement have shaped his game. He also breaks down lateral movement, playing sweeps, communicating with shooters, clearing, rebound control, and why goalies should take pride in having strong stick skills.

The conversation also goes beyond technique. Logan opens up about his ACL injury and the mental challenges that came with a long recovery. He talks about taking things one day at a time, rebuilding confidence after difficult stretches of games, using visualization, and learning how to move forward when things don't go as planned.

Damon and Logan also talk about goalie gear, his Maverik head, learning from goalies like Brett Queener, playing for Coach John Tillman at Maryland, winning a national championship, and the importance of having confidence without allowing one bad game to define you.

Logan also leaves younger goalies with a simple message: have fun, don't beat yourself up, stay positive, and remember that lacrosse is still a game.

If you're a young goalie looking to improve your game, or simply want to understand what goes on inside the mind of an elite goalie, this episode is for you.

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Andrew Cook has been following Lax Goalie Rat since nearly the beginning. Now he’s a Division 1 goalie headed to Dartmouth after spending two seasons at Johns Hopkins.

In this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Andrew shares his journey from getting thrown into goal so his older brother had someone to shoot on, to becoming a D1 goalie and developing his game alongside some of the best players in college lacrosse.

We talk about Andrew’s recruiting journey, the adjustment from high school to Division 1 lacrosse, the stance change that helped him make more low saves, and what he learned from playing alongside Chayse Ierlan at Hopkins.

Andrew also breaks down how he trains today, including structured shooting sessions, footwork, wall ball, juggling, visualization, meditation and box breathing.

We also get into:

• Why young goalies should focus on becoming great before worrying about recruiting
• How Andrew structures his weekly goalie training
• Why realistic, game-like reps matter
• His footwork and hand-eye routine
• How to handle being a backup or playing on the scout team
• Why “playing free” helped change his mindset
• Visualization and preparing mentally for getting scored on
• Staying positive when you’re in a slump
• The story behind Cookie Strings
• Andrew’s thoughts on the latest goalie heads and stringing setups
• Why he entered the transfer portal and chose Dartmouth
• His biggest piece of advice for young goalies

Andrew’s approach is simple: train with purpose, stay present, love the game and trust that the results will take care of themselves.

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In this episode of Lax Goalie Rat, Grayson Manning joins the podcast to talk about his journey from box lacrosse goalie in Canada to becoming a starting goalie at the University of Denver and representing Team Canada at the U20 level.

Grayson shares how box lacrosse shaped his style in the cage, the adjustments he made when transitioning to field lacrosse, and how he developed his game at the Division I level. He also discusses learning from every goal against, handling the pressure of being a backup, staying ready when his opportunity comes, and the importance of resetting quickly after giving up a goal.

Grayson also talks about his experience winning gold with Team Canada, working with Ryan LaPlante and Coach Metzbauer, and the mindset that has helped him continue improving.

His biggest message for goalies? Embrace the imperfection, keep striving to get better, and most importantly—have fun with it.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Travis Wagner, college lacrosse goalie and coach, who shares his journey from becoming a goalie at just three years old to developing into a college starter and coach. Travis talks about how watching indoor lacrosse inspired him to play goalie, the mentors who shaped his game, and how playing box lacrosse helped him improve his angles and presence in the cage.

We talk about Travis’s unique approach to goalie mechanics, including his bottom-hand philosophy, keeping his hips loaded, preventing his knees from buckling, and using his size to fill the cage. Travis also shares how strength training, eye exercises, studying shooters, and developing consistent pregame routines helped him improve both physically and mentally.

This conversation also dives into the mental side of goaltending, including dealing with slumps, avoiding overthinking, staying loose, finding your own style, and learning how to stay present. Travis also explains what he looks for when coaching and recruiting goalies, from communication and clearing ability to body language, footwork, and how players respond after giving up a goal.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Travis became a goalie at just three years old
• How Pat O'Toole and indoor lacrosse inspired him
• The role Travis’s grandfather played in his early development
• Learning from Willie Clancy, Dennis Costanza, and Blaze Reardon
• How playing box lacrosse helped his field goalie game
• Developing his own unique goalie style
• Travis’s bottom-hand dominant goalie philosophy
• Using height and positioning to fill the cage
• Keeping the hips loaded on five-hole saves
• Preventing the knees from buckling
• How glute medius strength helped his goalie movement
• Strength training and goblet squats for goalies
• Breaking his thumb six times and developing additional protection
• Transferring to Cortland and becoming a four-year starter
• Using eye exercises to improve visual tracking
• Studying shooters and learning their tendencies
• Developing consistent pregame routines
• Dealing with a difficult slump during his junior year
• Using simple phrases to stay present and focused
• Learning from hockey goalies and baseball catchers
• Why there is no one-size-fits-all goalie style
• What Travis looks for when recruiting college goalies
• The importance of communication and clearing
• How goalies should respond after giving up a goal
• Supporting and celebrating teammates
• Why goalies should enjoy the moment and appreciate the game

Key Takeaways

Find your own style. Travis emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to playing goalie. Every goalie has different strengths, body types, and athletic abilities, so the goal is to find what works for you.

Stay present instead of overthinking. Travis talks about how overthinking his movements hurt his performance during a difficult stretch. Simple reminders like “Be here now” helped him refocus on the moment.

Build your athleticism. Strengthening the hips, glutes, and lower body can help goalies maintain better positioning and move more effectively in the cage.

Study the game. Travis learned to recognize shooting tendencies by studying shooters and having conversations with his teammates about where they would shoot in different situations.

Communication matters. For goalies going through the recruiting process, Travis emphasizes loud, clear communication with defenders and being someone a coach can hear and trust from the cage.

Your response after a goal matters. Coaches notice body language and how a goalie responds after giving up a goal. Resetting quickly and staying engaged with your teammates can be just as important as the save itself.

Memorable Quote

“Be where your feet are. Enjoy every moment that you're playing and just appreciate the brotherhood that comes with playing this game.”

About Travis Wagner

Travis Wagner is a college lacrosse goalie and coach who played at Cortland, where he became a four-year starter. After developing his game through field and box lacrosse, Travis continued to grow as a player through athletic training, studying the position, and learning from other goalies. He now coaches and works with goalies, bringing his experience as a player into his approach to developing the next generation of goaltenders.

Final Thoughts

Travis’s story is a great reminder that becoming a better goalie is about more than just making saves. Developing your own style, staying athletic, studying the game, preparing mentally, and learning from setbacks all play a role in becoming a better goaltender. Most importantly, Travis reminds goalies to stay present, enjoy the game, and appreciate the brotherhood that comes with playing lacrosse.

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This week, Coach Damon sits down with Cornell goalie #55 Matt Tully heading into his senior season with a national title already under his belt. 

Matt breaks down how he rebuilt his stance from freshman year through junior year, his wall-ball juggling routine for soft hands, and the mental game of being a backup goalie ("make it so you have five game days that week"). 

Plus: the story behind Cornell's hard hat tradition, his recruiting journey, and why he thinks clean saves might be a little overrated. 

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We made it to episode 300! Thanks for everyone who has been along for the ride. I enjoy talking shop with goalies so much I'd continue to do this even if we had 0 listeners but the fact that some of you love this conversations (and reach out to tell me so) is simply amazing! 

Here's the episode this week - Ohio State goalie Jack Allen has taken about as unusual a path to D1 lacrosse as it gets — born in Syracuse, developed in Ohio, and then at age 10, moved to England, where men's lacrosse is a niche, blue-collar sport and his best option for reps was playing in a men's league with guys from the local Air Force bases.

In this episode, Jack talks about growing up drawn to the goalie position in every sport he played, what he actually looks for when studying goalies on film, and how he digs out of a slump with targeted reps. He opens up about the mental side — the sports psychology resources at Ohio State, the box-breathing reset he uses in the cage, and the French word he picked up on a trip that helps him flush a bad goal.

We also cover his recruiting story (the World Championships as his tape, and a lot of unanswered emails), what it means to play "like a rubber band, not a slinky" at 5'9", why up-the-hash shots were his toughest college adjustment, what he's learned practicing next to Casey "Big Tasty" Yamron, and coming off the bench cold against Rutgers.

Plus a full gear breakdown — STX Eclipse 3, memory mesh, RZR 2 gloves, and the backwards top string that changed his release.

Jack's closing message: lacrosse is the medicine game. Have fun with it, and give back to it.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Riley Horoshko, Temple University’s starting goalie, recent graduate, and American Conference Goalie of the Year. Riley shares her lacrosse goalie journey, from stepping into the cage in fourth grade because it meant “less running,” to becoming a standout college goalie after spending much of her college career as a backup.

We talk about the lessons Riley learned from playing multiple sports, why she did not start club lacrosse until late in high school, and how she navigated the recruiting process by focusing on schools she would love even without lacrosse. Riley also opens up about the mental side of being a goalie, including comparison, pressure, staying relaxed, and how not playing for several seasons helped her rediscover her love for the game.

This conversation is packed with practical advice for goalies, especially taller goalies, backups waiting for their chance, and athletes who are trying to enjoy the game while still competing at a high level.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Riley first became a goalie in fourth grade
• Why volleyball helped her develop as a lacrosse goalie
• Starting club lacrosse late and still having a successful recruiting process
• Choosing a school you would love even without lacrosse
• What made Temple’s team culture so special
• The coaching concept of “repetition without repetition”
• Why taller goalies should use their size instead of shrinking in the cage
• How Riley improved on low shots
• Goalie drills she used at Temple and now uses while coaching
• What she learned from being a backup for most of her college career
• How not playing helped her rediscover the joy of lacrosse
• Dealing with comparison as a goalie
• Mental game strategies, including staying loose, box breathing, and keeping things fun
• Riley’s approach to 8-meter shots
• Why her final advice to goalies is simple: find a way to make it fun

Key Takeaways

Being a backup can still be a huge part of your growth. Riley spent much of her college career waiting for her chance, but she credits that time with helping her mature, support her teammates, and fall back in love with lacrosse.

Goalies play better when they are relaxed. Riley emphasized that she played her best when she was having fun, talking to defenders, dancing a little, staying present, and not letting every shot feel heavy.

Stop comparing and start redirecting your focus. For young goalies stuck comparing themselves to teammates or opponents, Riley’s advice is to look away, reset, talk to teammates, study the shooters, and put your attention somewhere useful.

Use the tools you have. As a taller goalie, Riley learned to use her height, wingspan, and legs to her advantage, especially when teams tried to target her low.

Keep the game simple when things feel hard. On tough days, Riley would focus on basic cues like tracking the top of the shooter’s stick and making the saves she knew she could make.

Memorable Quote

“Just find a way to make the sport fun and find a way to make yourself relaxed in the goal.”

About Riley Horoshko

Riley Horoshko is a goalie from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, and a recent graduate of Temple University. After stepping into goal in fourth grade, Riley went on to become Temple’s starting goalie and earn American Conference Goalie of the Year honors. She now coaches young goalies in the Lehigh Valley area.

Final Thoughts

Riley’s story is a great reminder that every goalie’s path looks different. You do not need to be the earliest recruit, the biggest gear person, or the starter from day one to have a great career. Stay ready, support your teammates, keep learning, and most importantly, find ways to enjoy the game.

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From Japan's national lacrosse team Shun Ito joins the podcast to discuss his lacrosse goalie journey. 

Shun recently had a PLL tryout and made the Whipsnakes for a few games which is an incredible journey for this international star. 

Enjoy this podcast where we talk about him learning the game and lacrosse in Japan. 

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Connor Knight, starting goalie for the A10 Champion Richmond Spiders, joins the show for a deep dive into how he plays the position at the D1 level.

In this episode:

• Connor's "never too high, never too low" mental approach
• The counterclockwise crease walk and why it works as a reset
• Playing goalie in a 10-man ride (rare topic, real reps)
• What he learned backing up Zach Vigu
• Tips for taller goalies (Connor is 6'4")
• Scouting Aidan O'Neil and Lucas Littlejohn ahead of the Lax Attack Summit
• His current stick setup and what's working in season

A great listen for any goalie working on the mental side of the position.

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Minnesota goalie Arsen Hanschuck joins the show to talk about his path from Ukraine to the MCLA, learning the position largely on his own, and the small adjustments that have shaped his game.

We get into his relaxed stance and why his hands sit closer together than most coaches teach, the mental prep routine he starts the night before games, and the "quiet feet" philosophy he uses inside the cage. Arsen also breaks down what MCLA lacrosse really looks like at the University of Minnesota — the travel schedule, the top programs in the country right now, and what it takes to land an at-large bid.

Plus: how he approaches coaching young goalies (build them up before you tear them down), why he thinks every goalie should string their own stick — he walks through his Nemesis 3 / StringKing Grizzly 2X / ghost pocket setup — and the mindset that helps him climb out of slumps.

A great listen for any goalie wrestling with the mental side of the position or eyeing club lacrosse in college.

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