LGR 138: Virginia Goalie Ashley Vernon

⭐ Episode Overview

Coach Damon Wilson sits down with Ashley Vernon, University of Virginia women’s lacrosse goalie, to unpack her unconventional start in the sport, her transfer journey from ECU to UVA, her mindset in the cage, and her approach to handling pressure, chaos, and competition.

“Every practice is a new opportunity, and you just gotta dig and fight for that spot every practice and every game.”

Ashley brings honesty, competitiveness, and thoughtful reflection to this episode—plus a detailed breakdown of her in‑game saves.

🧠 Key Topics & Takeaways

Ashley's Unconventional Start

• Began lacrosse in 1st grade as a midfielder.

• Quit in 5th grade to pursue club soccer.

• Returned in 8th grade—was told she wasn’t good enough to play field on the A‑team.

• Coach suggested goalie:

  “We don’t have a goalie. You could try that if you want.”

• Played half in net just to get A‑team minutes.

• Borrowed school equipment her entire freshman year.

Falling in Love With the Position

• Initially hated goalie—wanted to score goals, not save them.

• Eventually loved the chaos, pace, and challenge of simplifying fast situations.

• Never flinched at shots thanks to heavy shin guards early on.

Soccer Background & Athleticism

• Club soccer built her footwork, spacing awareness, and field IQ.

• Attributes her explosive movement and sharp reactions to multi‑sport training.

Learning the Position

• Senior goalie mentor taught her:

  • How to hold the stick

  • How to step

  • Basic positioning

• Watched YouTube save edits, especially John Galloway and Meghan Taylor.

• Recorded herself to compare technique and refine movements.

Mindset & Mental Game

• Loves that goalie forces you not to overthink.

• After goals:

  • Replays the shot mentally

  • Performs an “air save”

  • Drinks water as a reset

• Uses tennis‑style “repetition resets” to regain feel and confidence.

Recruiting & College Journey

• Always believed she could play college lacrosse—never doubted it.

• Recommends:

  • Making highlight videos

  • Emailing coaches

  • Marketing yourself (even via Instagram pages)

  • Focusing on where you want to go, not where you currently are

• Chose ECU for coaching, academics, and opportunity.

Pandemic Experience

• Season canceled—emotional and surreal.

• Leaned heavily on teammates through Zoom check‑ins and support.

Transfer to UVA

• Realized ECU wasn’t the right fit—pandemic wasn’t the cause.

• Entered the portal and restarted recruiting.

• Chose UVA for:

  • Teaching hospital on campus (premed)

  • Strong academics

  • Team culture

• Mid‑year transfer in January—smooth transition thanks to welcoming teammates.

Competition & Earning the Starting Role

• No promises of starting.

• Focused on effort, consistency, and avoiding overthinking.

• Believes every practice resets the depth chart:

  “Every practice is a new opportunity.”

Save Breakdown & On‑Field Thinking

• Discusses her first save vs. Maryland.

• Emphasizes momentum, confidence, and staying present.

• Each shot is a new opportunity—no dwelling on previous plays.

🎧 Sponsor Mention

Lacrosse Goalie Summit 6 — March 28–April 1 Free coaching sessions from 12 elite goalie coaches. Tickets at GoalieSummit.com.

🔚 Episode Closing

Ashley’s story is a reminder that the goalie path isn’t always linear—but with competitiveness, self‑belief, and resilience, you can carve out your place at the highest level.