⭐ Episode Overview
Coach Damon sits down with Kat Garvey, Johns Hopkins’ starting goalie—also known as Keeper Kat. Kat shares her journey from third‑grade soccer goalie to Big Ten Goaltender of the Year, her Florida roots, her recruiting challenges, her training habits, and her mindset heading into her final season.
“Honestly, just be yourself out there. Have fun and don’t be afraid to be judged. Everyone’s their own unique goalie.”
This episode is packed with practical tips, personal stories, and insights that goalies of all ages can use immediately.
🧠 Key Topics & Takeaways
Kat’s Origin Story
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Started lacrosse in third grade when her entire soccer team tried the sport.
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Was thrown into the cage because she was already a soccer goalie.
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Found similarities in positioning, communication, and fearlessness.
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Loved it enough to stick with it—and never left the crease.
Soccer → Lacrosse: Transferable Skills
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Fearlessness: Soccer taught her not to fear the ball.
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Positioning: Understanding angles translated directly to lacrosse.
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Communication: Directing defenders in soccer built her vocal leadership.
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Mental toughness: Getting scored on in soccer is brutal—lacrosse felt lighter by comparison.
Learning the Position
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Fifth‑grade coach from Maryland taught her stepping, positioning, and stick work.
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Middle‑school goalie coach Eli Delisle (Rollins College All‑American) elevated her game.
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Florida lacked goalie coaches—so she turned to online resources, including Lax Goalie Rat.
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Googled drills, studied videos, and built her own training library.
Training Habits
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Extra shots with teammates after practice.
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Tennis‑ball reaction work with her mom (a tennis player).
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Hand‑eye coordination drills from the Goalie Summit.
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Weighted sledgehammer drills for explosive movement.
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Boxing workouts for footwork, cardio, and hand speed.
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Coaching youth goalies to reinforce fundamentals.
Goalie Style & Influences
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Active, mobile goalie—loves picking off passes and playing outside the crease.
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Influenced by:
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Eli Delisle
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Devon Wills
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Kaylee Waters
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Believes every goalie should embrace their own unique style.
Film Study
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Watches other goalies more than herself to avoid harsh self‑criticism.
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Reviews her own film after tough games.
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Balances learning with maintaining a healthy mental state.
Recruiting Journey
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Chose lacrosse over soccer in 7th/8th grade.
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Started attending IWLCA tournaments early because her club needed a goalie.
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Faced challenges as a Florida athlete—some schools openly said they didn’t recruit Florida players.
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Played for three different club teams due to clubs folding.
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Sent Hopkins coach Janine Tucker an email with her highlight video—Hopkins responded immediately.
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Committed before sophomore/junior year.
Advice for Florida & Non‑Hotbed Goalies
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Use online resources.
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Build a highlight reel.
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Create a lacrosse‑specific Instagram.
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Attend camps at schools you’re interested in.
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Don’t let geography limit your goals.
Why Hopkins?
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Family atmosphere and strong team culture.
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Coach Janine Tucker felt like a second mom.
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World‑class academics—especially the School of Public Health.
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Kat is now a grad student in epidemiology.
Mindset Heading Into Final Season
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Not focused on pressure or repeating awards.
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Wants to have fun, enjoy the last dance, and play for her teammates.
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Recognizes each season is its own unique story.
Current Focus: Patience
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Working on staying patient against fakes.
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Avoiding biting early and getting pulled out of position.
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Training herself to wait that extra fraction of a second before exploding.
🎧 Sponsor Mention
Lacrosse Goalie Summit 6 — March 28–April 1 Free coaching sessions from 12 elite goalie coaches. Tickets at GoalieSummit.com.
🔚 Episode Closing
Kat’s story is a powerful reminder that goalies thrive when they embrace their uniqueness, stay patient, and find joy in the game. Her journey from Florida to Hopkins shows what’s possible when you combine passion, creativity, and resilience.
