LGR 216: Lauren DiStefano on the Important Traits of Being a Team Leader

Honorable Mention All-American Lauren DiStefano on Leadership, Mental Toughness & Becoming a Calm, Confident Goalie

How do the best goalies stay composed when the goals start piling up?

In this episode of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon sits down with Lauren DiStefano, Wagner University’s standout goalie, team captain, and USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American. Lauren shares the mindset that helped her become one of the nation's top goalies, why confidence is built on trust—not perfection—and how staying calm can keep an entire defense together.

From growing up in Long Island lacrosse country to leading Wagner through a championship run, Lauren offers valuable lessons for goalies at every level.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why patience and positioning are more important than making flashy saves
• The "next shot mentality" every goalie needs after allowing a goal
• How to overcome slumps during a season
• Why leadership starts with controlling your own emotions
• How sports psychology helped improve her performance
• The recruiting journey that led her to Wagner University
• Why game experience is more valuable than endless drills
• Advice for young goalies hoping to play college lacrosse
• Lauren's simple pregame routine and goalie philosophy

Key Takeaways

🥍 Stay patient and let the ball come to you instead of guessing.

🧠 Your mindset is often your biggest advantage. How you talk to yourself matters.

💪 Great goalies recover quickly from mistakes instead of dwelling on them.

👥 A calm goalie creates confidence throughout the entire defense.

🎯 You're on the field for a reason—trust your preparation and trust yourself.

Quote of the Episode

"Once your goalie starts falling apart, I feel like the whole defense is kind of screwed. I have to stay calm. Next shot mentality. I'm here for a reason."

About Lauren DiStefano

Lauren DiStefano is a former standout goalie at Wagner University, where she served as team captain and earned USA Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-American honors. A native of West Islip, New York, Lauren built her game through strong fundamentals, disciplined positioning, and exceptional mental toughness. She recently completed her MBA in Marketing after finishing an outstanding collegiate career.

Resources Mentioned

• Lax Goalie Rat Academy
• Sports psychology and mental performance training
• Goalie positioning fundamentals
• Leadership and communication on defense

Connect

Follow Lauren on Instagram: @lauren.distefano

Learn more about the Lax Goalie Rat Academy and goalie training resources at Lax Goalie Rat.