Episode 9:Female Lax Goalie Star Devon Wills
In this episode of the LAX Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon Wilson sits down with Devin Wills, one of the most accomplished female lacrosse goalies in the history of the sport.
Devin shares her journey from becoming a goalie in Colorado to playing at Dartmouth, winning World Cup championships with Team USA, and becoming the only female goalie to try out for the men's professional league.
The conversation covers everything from developing patience in the crease and building confidence to adapting your style, handling pressure, leadership, and the mental approach needed to succeed as an elite lacrosse goalie.
Devin also discusses her transition from player to coach, sharing lessons from her experience coaching goalies at the University of Southern California and helping the next generation improve.
In This Episode
Devin explains how she first became a lacrosse goalie after splitting time between the field and the cage before realizing she enjoyed playing goalie more. She shares how wearing goalie equipment and embracing the position helped her fall in love with the role.
She discusses one of the biggest challenges young goalies face: patience. Devin explains why great goalies need to avoid guessing, trust their training, track the ball, and explode once the shot is released.
Devin also talks about developing her own goalie style, including her "igloo" arc and 45-degree step, while emphasizing that every goalie needs to find what works best for them.
The conversation explores her experience trying out for the New York Lizards, playing against elite male athletes, and how competing at a higher level helped her return to the basics and simplify her game.
She also shares her coaching philosophy, including the importance of individual training, asking goalies what they want to improve, using film, and balancing technical work with simply playing.
Key Takeaways
Patience comes before reaction
Great goalies learn to stay patient, track the ball, and trust their training instead of guessing before the shot is taken.
The basics are the foundation of success
Even elite goalies can struggle. Devin explains how returning to fundamentals can rebuild confidence and consistency.
Confidence is built through preparation
The best way to develop confidence is through repetition, extra work, film study, and being prepared for every situation.
Focus on making the right play
Goalies cannot control every goal that goes in. What matters is making the correct movement and continuing to improve.
Every goalie has their own style
There is no single perfect stance, arc, or technique. Goalies should experiment and find what works best for their strengths.
Leadership is earned through actions
Titles and accomplishments do not automatically make someone a leader. True leadership comes from credibility, trust, and setting an example.
Goalies are part of the team
Although the position can feel isolated, great goalies communicate, support their defense, and understand they are part of the entire unit.
Topics Covered
How Devin became a lacrosse goalie
Growing up playing lacrosse in Colorado
Developing patience in the crease
Avoiding overthinking and guessing
Creating your own goalie style
The importance of athleticism for goalies
Playing outside the crease
Goalies who influenced Devin’s career
Trying out for the New York Lizards
Adjusting to faster shots and higher-level competition
Going back to fundamentals
Training Division I goalies at USC
Individual goalie development
Using film to improve
Building confidence after mistakes
Handling slumps
Resetting mentally after goals
The importance of teammate relationships
Recruiting and evaluating goalies
Leadership lessons from Team USA
Transitioning from player to coach
Memorable Moments
Devin explains that winning World Cup championships with Team USA was one of the proudest moments of her career. She talks about the pride of representing her country and the bond created with teammates from around the world.
She shares how trying out for the New York Lizards helped her become a better goalie by forcing her to focus on the basics and adjust to the speed of the men's game.
One of the biggest lessons from Devin’s career is the importance of patience. She explains that goalies often hurt themselves by guessing instead of trusting their training.
Devin also discusses overcoming slumps and how confidence can disappear when goalies overthink saves. Her advice is to simplify the game, focus on one improvement at a time, and return to the fundamentals.
A major highlight is Devin’s coaching philosophy of asking goalies what they want to improve instead of simply telling them what to fix. She explains that getting player buy-in is a key part of development.
Guests
Devin Wills
Devin Wills is a former Team USA lacrosse goalie, Dartmouth standout, World Cup champion, and coach at the University of Southern California.
She is considered one of the greatest female lacrosse goalies ever and became the only female goalie to try out for a men's professional lacrosse league.
Resources Mentioned
LAX Goalie Rat Camp
University of Southern California lacrosse
Dartmouth women's lacrosse
Team USA Lacrosse
New York Lizards
Goalie clinics and camps
Film study
Individual goalie training
Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the LAX Goalie Rat Camp.
The online camp provides lacrosse goalies with training videos, drills, and instruction covering technique, positioning, confidence, and the mental side of playing goalie.
Learn more at laxgoalierat.com/goal
Closing
Devin Wills’ message for goalies is simple: trust your training, stay patient, and continue improving.
The best goalies are not just athletes who make saves. They are competitors who prepare, adapt, learn from mistakes, and continue building confidence every day.
Whether you are a young goalie developing your skills or a coach helping the next generation, Devin’s lessons show that success comes from strong fundamentals, a great mindset, and a willingness to keep learning.
