Lax Goalie Rat Podcast: Episode Summary

Guest: Jack Thompson (Starting Goalie, University of Denver)

Host: Coach Damon Wilson

## Episode Highlights & Key Takeaways

1. The Coach's Kid Steps into Net

• The Second Grade Sub: Jack started playing lacrosse in kindergarten but didn't jump into the cage until second grade. His dad was the youth coach, and when the starting goalie failed to show up for a game, Jack was volunteered.

• Embracing the Pressure: Despite initial reluctance, he fell in love with the position immediately, drawn to the immense impact a goalie has on the outcome of a game.

2. The Evolution of Technique (Left-Handed Quirks)

• The Evolution Academy Influence: Growing up in Colorado, Jack didn't have formal goalie training until the 8th grade when he connected with Trevor Tierney and Ryan LaPlante at the Goalie Evolution Academy.

• The Right-Handed Lefty: Mirroring his coach Ryan LaPlante, Jack plays left-handed but is naturally right-hand dominant in daily life. This unique trait gives him a highly powerful and natural bottom-hand drive, which helps him punch across cleanly on difficult off-stick hip saves.

• The Shallow Arc: Jack plays a flat, low arc deep in the crease, focusing on purely lateral movements. This style grants him a crucial extra split-second to track the ball all the way into his stick.

3. Mentorship from Legend Dylan Ward

• Staying on Your Feet: Professional goalie Dylan Ward coached Jack during high school. Ward helped him overcome a bad habit of automatically dropping to his knees on low bounce shots.

• The Lean Forward: Jack focuses on leaning his upper body forward rather than falling back on his heels during low saves, ensuring he remains explosive and big in the net.

4. Staying Home to Play for Coach Bill Tierney

• An Unexpected Shift: Jack originally set his sights on playing for an Ivy League school for the academics. However, practicing on Denver's home field with his club team (Denver Elite) made him realize the incredible program right in his backyard.

• Playing for a Legend: Jack highlights Coach Bill Tierney's mastery of team culture, noting that Coach Tierney pushes his players to not only be elite athletes but exceptional people through impactful life lessons on and off the field.

5. Surviving a 7-Goalie Roster

• The Ultimate Competition: Most college programs carry three or four goalies; Denver carried an unprecedented seven goalies during the season.

• Crease Brotherhood: Despite the intense battle for playing time, the goalie room remained incredibly tight-knit. To keep things collaborative and fun off the field, the group frequently hosted goalie-only hangouts to play Dungeons & Dragons.

• Earning Leadership: As a young starter in a crowded room, Jack earned the defense's respect by mastering every teammate's name early, being a vocal communicator, and consistently showing up early to workouts.

## Top Quotes from Jack

"Playing that low arc just allows you to get that little extra time to see the ball... that half a second can be the difference between saving it and having it go in."

"To all the goalies out there fighting for spots—view it as a good thing to have those guys there. They push you to make you better, and there is so much you can learn from watching other good goalies play."

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