In this episode of the LAX Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon Wilson sits down with Dr. Andrew Goldstein, former Dartmouth All-American goalie, professional lacrosse player, UCLA biology professor, and the first openly gay male professional athlete in an American team sport.
Andrew shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a family of goalies to becoming one of the nation's top collegiate goalies at Dartmouth. Beyond the field, he opens up about the challenges of hiding his identity while competing at the highest level, the courage it took to come out to his teammates, and how that decision forever changed his life.
The conversation explores elite goalie development, mental preparation, leadership, overcoming adversity, and creating a more welcoming lacrosse community where every athlete can thrive.
In This Episode
Andrew explains how growing up in a family of goalies led him to fall in love with the position at a young age. He shares how attending Bill Pilat's goalie school helped shape his technical foundation and accelerated his development.
He reflects on earning the starting job at Dartmouth after beginning his college career as a backup, discussing the lessons he learned about patience, preparation, and always being ready when opportunity arrives.
Coach Damon and Andrew relive one of the most iconic moments in NCAA lacrosse history—Andrew's coast-to-coast goalie goal against Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament—and break down how his aggressive clearing style became one of his greatest strengths.
The conversation then shifts to Andrew's personal story as he discusses realizing he was gay at a young age, the pressure of hiding his identity throughout high school and college, and the overwhelming relief he experienced after coming out to his teammates.
Andrew shares how the support he received inspired him to become an advocate for inclusion and why creating environments where athletes feel accepted can have a lifelong impact.
Key Takeaways
Preparation creates opportunity.
Even as a backup goalie, Andrew learned that staying mentally prepared allows you to capitalize when your chance finally comes.
Goalies contribute in many ways.
Making saves is only one part of the position. Leadership, communication, clearing, hustle, and effort all help teams win.
Authenticity builds confidence.
Being true to yourself removes unnecessary burdens and allows you to focus your energy on becoming the best teammate and athlete possible.
Small words matter.
Creating an inclusive team culture often starts with everyday language and making teammates feel accepted for who they are.
Courage inspires others.
By sharing his story, Andrew has helped countless young athletes realize they are not alone.
Topics Covered
- Growing up in a family of lacrosse goalies
- Learning from Bill Pilat's goalie school
- Becoming an All-American at Dartmouth
- Life as a backup goalie
- Winning the Ivy League Championship
- Scoring a goalie goal against Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament
- Clearing philosophy and athletic playmaking
- Mental preparation and confidence
- Coming out as a Division I athlete
- Team culture and acceptance
- Being the first openly gay male professional team sport athlete in America
- Supporting LGBTQ+ athletes in sports
- Leadership beyond the field
- Balancing athletics and academics
- Life after lacrosse and cancer research at UCLA
Memorable Moments
Andrew recalls attending Bill Pilat's goalie school as a young player and how those early coaching experiences transformed his understanding of the position.
He relives his unforgettable full-field goalie goal against Syracuse during the NCAA Tournament, one of the most memorable plays in Dartmouth lacrosse history.
Andrew shares the emotional story of coming out to his Dartmouth teammates after his All-American season and the overwhelming support he received from those around him.
One of the most impactful moments comes as Andrew explains how years later his story helped inspire a young lacrosse player and his family, leading to the creation of the Courage Game to show LGBTQ+ athletes they belong in the lacrosse community.
Guest
Dr. Andrew Goldstein
Former Dartmouth All-American goalie, former professional lacrosse player, UCLA professor of biology, cancer researcher, and trailblazing advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.
Resources Mentioned
- Bill Pilat Goalie School
- Dartmouth Men's Lacrosse
- UCLA Department of Biology
- LAX Goalie Summit
- Courage Game initiative
- ESPN feature on Andrew Goldstein
Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by the LAX Goalie Summit.
The Summit features presentations from many of the top goalie coaches in lacrosse covering communication, mental toughness, technique, footwork, low saves, mindfulness, leadership, and more.
Learn more at goaliesummit.com.
Closing
Andrew's story extends far beyond lacrosse. His journey is a reminder that success isn't measured only by awards or championships, but by the courage to be authentic and the impact we have on others.
Whether you're fighting for a starting spot, overcoming personal challenges, or simply trying to become a better teammate, Andrew's message is clear: prepare relentlessly, support those around you, and never underestimate the power of being yourself.
