Podcast
Lax Goalie Rat Podcast
Hosted by Coach Damon Wilson · EN
Welcome to the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast! Where each week Coach Damon features interviews, strategy, and advice for dominating our position - lacrosse goalie! Ever wonder what makes the top lacrosse goalies elite? Me too! So I decided to create a podcast to figure it out. Each week I interview an elite lax goalie, coach, or special guest to find the tools, tactics, drills, and mental mindsets that listeners can use.
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
LGR 289: Coaching For Life, Not Just Wins with Mark Lange
Jan 2600:51:40Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailCoach Mark Lange joins the show to discuss his new book "The Culture Line: Building Future Community Leaders Through Sport." With 20+ years of coaching experience across 100+ seasons—from Pop Warner football to Carleton University lacrosse—Mark shares his framework for developing athletes into leaders.We dig into why the best coaches are both loved and hated in the same week, what "process-driven" really means for goalies and coaches, and why resilience starts before the tough moment ever happens. Mark breaks down why authenticity matters (don't try to be Dylan Ward or Connor Foley—be YOU), and we explore the difference between a winning culture and a leadership culture.Key takeaways for goalies: how to build resilience through reasonable expectations, why having fun is contagious for your whole team, and finding your authentic style in the cage instead of copying someone else's game.Connect with Mark on Instagram @marklangejr or email theculturelinebook@gmail.comSupport the show
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LGR 288: Building Resilience and Performing Under Pressure with Dr. Kate Lund
Jan 1200:37:48Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailDr. Kate Lund, psychologist, best-selling author, and host of The Optimized Mind podcast, shares powerful strategies for building mental resilience in lacrosse goalies and young athletes.In this conversation, we explore:The Relaxation Response Technique: A simple 5-minute daily practice using breathing and a calming word/phrase to modulate stress and build emotional controlPre-Game Routines & Visualization: How to create a solid foundation of confidence before stepping on the fieldManaging Emotions on the Sidelines: Why parent stress transfers to players and what to do about itThe "Even Keel" Mindset: How to celebrate great saves without losing focus for the next shotProcessing Failure: The importance of sitting with disappointment rather than sweeping it under the rugThe Daily Wins Exercise: Writing down 3-5 things that went well each day to counteract negative thought patternsThe Car Ride Home: How parents can support their goalie after tough gamesDr. Lund also discusses her new book, Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting, and shares insights from her personal journey with resilience, starting from childhood challenges with hydrocephalus to becoming a competitive tennis player.Connect with Dr. Kate Lund:Website: katelundspeaks.comInstagram: @dr_kate_lundLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kate-lundSupport the show
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LGR 287: Back to Basics with UPenn Goalie Orly Sedransk
Dec 1900:55:27Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailPenn female lacrosse goalie Orly Sedransk joins the show to share her journey from a volunteer youth goalie to an Ivy League standout. Orly breaks down what young goalies actually need to succeed, from building confidence and handling pressure to creating routines that lead to real consistency. She dives deep into the mental side of the position, including breathing techniques, reset habits after goals, and how to stay locked in during big moments like overtime and championship games.This episode also covers goalie development at every stage, including earning trust from teammates, preparing for college recruiting, managing slumps, and why your warm-up does not define your performance. Packed with practical lessons, mindset shifts, and honest insight, this is a must-listen for goalies, coaches, and parents who want to understand what it really takes to thrive in the crease at the highest level. Support the show
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LGR 286: Inside the Mind of Notre Dame Goalie Thomas Ricciardelli
Dec 500:53:46Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailNotre Dame National Champion Tommy Ricciardelli on Mental Toughness, Championship Goaltending & Finding Your Flow StateJoin two-time National Champion Tommy Ricciardelli (Notre Dame) as he breaks down the mental game that carried him through championship runs and what it really takes to compete at the highest level.In this episode, Tommy shares:The Next Shot Mentality - How he learned to bounce back from 4-goal runs and stay composed under pressure (hint: it involves tapping the posts and focusing on blades of grass)Finding Your Flow State - Tommy's approach to getting into that blackout performance zone where you don't remember plays but make every saveThe Reality of Being a Backup - How serving as Liam Entenmann's backup for two years made him a better goalie and taught him invaluable lessons about competing at the elite levelCoach Corrigan's Two Non-Negotiables - Poise and intention in everything you do, on and off the fieldTechnical Insights - Why Tommy switched from a tight stance to playing loose, the truth about that little "hop" technique, and his stick setup philosophyChampionship Lessons - What he learned from that Penn State comeback loss and how it's shaping his approach this seasonThe Communication Balance - Why Notre Dame goalies focus on saves first and let defenders handle slides (plus when younger goalies should learn the defensive system anyway)Plus: Tommy's advice on staying creative, having fun, and not putting too much pressure on yourself in the cage.Perfect for goalies looking to level up their mental game and learn from someone who's been there on college lacrosse's biggest stage.Support the show
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LGR 285: Reset and Respond with D3 Goalie Aaron D'Aversa
Nov 1700:59:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode, we sit down with Roger Williams University goalie Aaron D'Aversa to unpack his full lacrosse journey, from a gear obsessed third grader to a confident college starter. Aaron talks about why he first fell in love with the position, why he briefly left it to play attack, and how that switch ended up becoming one of the most important ingredients in his development.Aaron shares stories about youth lacrosse on Long Island, earning varsity time in seventh grade, and navigating the recruiting chaos of COVID before eventually finding the right home at Roger Williams. He goes deep into the technical parts of his game too including why he favors a lateral step, how he built elite clearing ability, and the drills he uses to stay patient, stay balanced, and stay big in the cage.You’ll hear his approach to the mental game, how he resets when he’s flinching or in a slump, the routines he relies on before every game, and why being able to string your own stick and throw with both hands might be the most underrated advantage a goalie can have.Whether you’re a young goalie building your foundation or a college player looking to sharpen the details, Aaron brings a ton of insight, honesty, and actionable advice in this interview.Tune in and enjoy.Support the show
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LGR 284: Building the Brick Walls and Swagger with Fin Landi
Nov 301:03:33Tap to summarizeSend a textColumbia College goalie Finn Landy joins the show to talk about his journey in the crease, from Raleigh youth lacrosse to South Carolina MCLA champ to NAIA starter and coach. Finn shares lessons on confidence, flow state, communication, clearing, film work, and developing young goalies. He also opens up about managing bipolar, staying even, and rediscovering joy in the game.We dig into:How Finn first jumped into goal and never leftGrowing up around the UNC and Duke lacrosse sceneUsing film to read shooters and sharpen reactionsBalancing reading the play vs reacting in the momentWhy swagger matters for goaliesTeaching confidence and communication to young keepersStaying present one play at a timeReturning to college lacrosse and leading a first year programPlus, the power of coaching to understand the game on a deeper level, and how to love playing the position again.Follow Finn: @brickwallgoaliecoFinal takeaway: Play with swagger.Support the show
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LGR 283: The Future Between the Pipes: Seamus Skelly’s Goalie Journey
Oct 2700:41:41Tap to summarizeSend a textSeamus Skelly is a 2030 goalie who has been documenting his daily training journey for more than 3 months straight. In this episode we talk about how he got started in goal back in third grade, what helped him get over the fear of the ball, and how he manages the pressure that comes with the position. He shares lessons learned from his older brother who plays D3, from working with Adaptive Goaltending, and from posting his Day-by-Day training videos that have already caught the attention of college programs and pros online. We get into drills, protection, positive self talk, mental toughness, using tools like LaceUp, cross-training with soccer, favorite saves, favorite pros to watch, and advice he would give to brand new youth goalies. A really fun and insightful conversation with a young goalie who is putting the work in every single day.Support the show
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LGR 267: Connor Foley’s Baggy Style and Big Presence in Net
Apr 14, 202500:58:45Tap to summarizeSend us a textPodcast interview with Brown goalie Connor Foley. Brown University goalie Connor Foley has been turning heads this season with a .560 save percentage, Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors, and an Inside Lacrosse HM All-American. But what sets Foley apart isn’t just stats—it’s his energy, style, and mindset.He joins the show to discuss his lacrosse goalie game and the lessons he's learned along the way. Support the show
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LGR 266: Embracing the Pressure with St. Joe's goalie Tommy Gross
Apr 8, 202501:00:11Tap to summarizeSend us a textPodcast interview with Tommy Gross, starting lacrosse goalie for the St. Josephs Hawks. We dig into him learning the position of lacrosse goalie at a young age, some mental lessons he's learned along the way, and a lesson from last year's A10 championship game he'll never forget. Support the show
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LGR 265: Sean Byrne: Faith, Focus, and the West Point Mental Edge
Mar 25, 202501:01:06Tap to summarizeSend us a textPodcast interview with Army West Point goalie Sean Byrne discussing his lacrosser goalie career, his faith, and the Black Knights 2025 season so far. Support the show
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