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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.
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Send us a text Notre Dame National Champion Tommy Ricciardelli on Mental Toughness, Championship Goaltending & Finding Your Flow State Join 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 tap...
Send us a text In 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, an...
Send us a text Columbia 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 s...
Send us a text Seamus 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 caug...
Send us a text Dylan Renner joins the show to unpack his journey from a kid on Long Island getting “sold” into the crease, to LIU, to Adelphi national champion, and finally a mid-week call up to the Archers. We cover the early struggles, the coach who gave him his first mental tools, and the technical tweaks that changed his off-stick game. Dylan shares how he learned different leadership styles from the crease, why he warms up with a short stick, what “aim small, miss small” did for hi...
Send us a text Special episode this week where we dig into off the field issues that can impact many goalies. In this special double-guest episode, we sit down with Caroline Potteiger and Rachel Costello to dive deep into one of the most important conversations in sports today: mental health for goalies. As both athletes and creators of the upcoming documentary Unmasked, Caroline and Rachel share their personal journeys with anxiety, depression, and the unique pressures that come with s...
Send us a text Stevenson University goalie Tyler Merchant joins the show to share how an eighth-grade “I’ll hop in” moment turned into a college career. We dig into the perfectionist/overthinker paradox, learning poise by studying goalies like Logan McNaney, and practical reset routines (yes, even the blink-and-wipe “hard drive” trick). Tyler walks through his Florida-to-boarding-school journey, a reclass year, committing to Catholic, transferring to Stevenson, and what D3 vs. D1 really...
Send us a text Colorado sophomore goalie Elena Oh’s path to the net is anything but traditional. Before lacrosse, she spent 12 years competing in jump rope, and she didn’t even start playing goalie until after her freshman year of high school. Just a year and a half later, she found herself committing to Colorado — her only offer — and now she’s making a name for herself in the Big 12. Last season, the former Lax Goalie Rat summer intern was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team, earned Goalk...
Send us a text Syracuse goalie Michael Ippoliti joins the show to share his incredible lacrosse journey—from growing up in Farmingdale, NY, to earning his spot with the Orange, and now representing Team Italy on the international stage. We dive into: The moment he first stepped into the crease as a kid 🥍How playing multiple sports shaped his goalie gameHis unique style of baiting shooters and leading a defenseTraining and competing at Syracuse alongside elite goaliesScoring a goal and making ...
Send us a text In this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Johns Hopkins goalie Oren Gelinas breaks down what it really takes to play at the highest level. From starting out in the crease as a kid, to earning starts for Hopkins, Oren shares the drills, routines, and mental game hacks that helped him level up. You’ll hear how he: Uses visualization and self-talk to build confidence.Stays loose and patient instead of tensing up on shots.Trains his hands, feet, and reaction time with specific...
Send us a text Join Coach Damon Wilson on this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast as he chats with Ray Carnicelli, the passionate voice of Jacksonville University lacrosse and a former standout goalie from Cortland St. (now SUNY Cortland) (Class of 1990). Dive into Ray's lacrosse origins in the early 1980s, from backyard games to his first formal gig in ninth grade, and how he honed his skills without today's online resources—relying on mentors, observation, and sheer passion. Ray shares n...
Send us a text 🎙️ Youth Phenom Ky "Ky the Goalie" Maradiaga on Chasing Big Goalie Dreams This week, Coach Damon chats with rising youth star Kyrie “Ky” Maradiaga, a 12-year-old goalie making big waves in the lacrosse world. From his first save to training with PLL and NLL legends like Brett Dobson, Ky shares what it’s like learning the position, how box lacrosse has shaped his field game, and the mindset that keeps him focused through the highs and lows. We dive into: How he got started...
Send us a text As Mercyhurst University makes its ambitious leap into NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse, one name to watch between the pipes is sophomore goalie Jaret Jawor. A native of Lockport, Illinois, Jawor played his high school lacrosse at Wheaton Academy, where he developed into a strong and athletic netminder. Now standing at 6-foot-3, Jawor brings size, reach, and a calming presence to the crease—traits that are quickly turning heads in his second collegiate season. Jawor made his coll...
Send us a text Owen Salanger has quickly made a name for himself as a standout goalie for the University of Massachusetts men’s lacrosse team. A freshman from Liverpool, New York, Salanger has demonstrated exceptional skill, composure, and leadership in the cage, earning Honorable Mention All-American honors from USA Lacrosse Magazine. His ability to make clutch saves and control the defense has been a key factor in UMass’s success this season. Salanger’s lacrosse journey began at Liverpool H...
Send us a text Fairfield Goalie Owen Hirsch: Confidence Is Contagious In this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon sits down with Fairfield University goalie Owen Hirsch to talk all things between the pipes. Owen shares his inspiring journey from a young, pad-covered beginner to D1 starter, highlighting how he conquered his fear of the ball and developed elite confidence in the cage. The conversation dives deep into goalie mindset, techniques like the "Philly Flow" system, the i...
Send us a text Maura Spicer is a promising young lacrosse player for Cherokee High School in Marlton, New Jersey. A member of the Class of 2028, Spicer plays as a goalkeeper for the Cherokee Girls Varsity Lacrosse team. Spicer has already begun making an impact on the field. During the 2024-2025 season, she recorded eight saves across three games, averaging 6.06 saves per game. Her standout performances include a ten-save game against Cinnaminson and a eight-save effort in a dominant win over...
Send us a text Daniella (Danny) Guyette is an emerging talent in collegiate lacrosse, recognized for her agility, composure, and leadership as a goalkeeper for Syracuse University. Originally from Newbury Park, California, Guyette’s lacrosse journey began at Newbury Park High School, where she was a standout player. She earned multiple accolades, including three-time All-Marmonte League First Team and All-Ventura County First Team honors. Her senior year was particularly impressive, as she po...
Send us a text Podcast interview with Carolina Tar Heels goalie Betty Nelson. At UNC, Nelson quickly made her mark. In her first collegiate start, she recorded seven saves, contributing to a dominant 14-2 victory over James Madison. Throughout the 2025 season, she has maintained a save percentage over 50% and played a pivotal role in UNC's top-ranked scoring defense. Her exceptional performance earned her a spot on the 2025 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, recognizing her as one of the nati...
Send us a text In this podcast episode, Notre Dame goalie Isabel Pithie opens up about the mental side of goalkeeping and how she stays focused and ready for action. A key theme of her journey has been mental preparation—whether it’s staying locked in during games, visualizing key moments, or learning how to reset after conceding a goal. She talks about how visualization and awareness of the game’s flow keep her mentally sharp, even when not in the cage. Pre-game, she keeps it simple with qui...
Send us a text Podcast 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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