Episode 302: Travis Wagner on Goalie Technique, Thumb Protection, and the Mental Game
In this episode, I’m joined by Travis Wagner, college lacrosse goalie and coach, who shares his journey from becoming a goalie at just three years old to developing into a college starter and coach. Travis talks about how watching indoor lacrosse inspired him to play goalie, the mentors who shaped his game, and how playing box lacrosse helped him improve his angles and presence in the cage.
We talk about Travis’s unique approach to goalie mechanics, including his bottom-hand philosophy, keeping his hips loaded, preventing his knees from buckling, and using his size to fill the cage. Travis also shares how strength training, eye exercises, studying shooters, and developing consistent pregame routines helped him improve both physically and mentally.
This conversation also dives into the mental side of goaltending, including dealing with slumps, avoiding overthinking, staying loose, finding your own style, and learning how to stay present. Travis also explains what he looks for when coaching and recruiting goalies, from communication and clearing ability to body language, footwork, and how players respond after giving up a goal.
In this episode, we talk about:
- How Travis became a goalie at just three years old
- How Pat O'Toole and indoor lacrosse inspired him
- The role Travis’s grandfather played in his early development
- Learning from Willie Clancy, Dennis Costanza, and Blaze Reardon
- How playing box lacrosse helped his field goalie game
- Developing his own unique goalie style
- Travis’s bottom-hand dominant goalie philosophy
- Using height and positioning to fill the cage
- Keeping the hips loaded on five-hole saves
- Preventing the knees from buckling
- How glute medius strength helped his goalie movement
- Strength training and goblet squats for goalies
- Breaking his thumb six times and developing additional protection
- Transferring to Cortland and becoming a four-year starter
- Using eye exercises to improve visual tracking
- Studying shooters and learning their tendencies
- Developing consistent pregame routines
- Dealing with a difficult slump during his junior year
- Using simple phrases to stay present and focused
- Learning from hockey goalies and baseball catchers
- Why there is no one-size-fits-all goalie style
- What Travis looks for when recruiting college goalies
- The importance of communication and clearing
- How goalies should respond after giving up a goal
- Supporting and celebrating teammates
- Why goalies should enjoy the moment and appreciate the game
Key Takeaways
Find your own style. Travis emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to playing goalie. Every goalie has different strengths, body types, and athletic abilities, so the goal is to find what works for you.
Stay present instead of overthinking. Travis talks about how overthinking his movements hurt his performance during a difficult stretch. Simple reminders like “Be here now” helped him refocus on the moment.
Build your athleticism. Strengthening the hips, glutes, and lower body can help goalies maintain better positioning and move more effectively in the cage.
Study the game. Travis learned to recognize shooting tendencies by studying shooters and having conversations with his teammates about where they would shoot in different situations.
Communication matters. For goalies going through the recruiting process, Travis emphasizes loud, clear communication with defenders and being someone a coach can hear and trust from the cage.
Your response after a goal matters. Coaches notice body language and how a goalie responds after giving up a goal. Resetting quickly and staying engaged with your teammates can be just as important as the save itself.
Memorable Quote
“Be where your feet are. Enjoy every moment that you're playing and just appreciate the brotherhood that comes with playing this game.”
About Travis Wagner
Travis Wagner is a college lacrosse goalie and coach who played at Cortland, where he became a four-year starter. After developing his game through field and box lacrosse, Travis continued to grow as a player through athletic training, studying the position, and learning from other goalies. He now coaches and works with goalies, bringing his experience as a player into his approach to developing the next generation of goaltenders.
Final Thoughts
Travis’s story is a great reminder that becoming a better goalie is about more than just making saves. Developing your own style, staying athletic, studying the game, preparing mentally, and learning from setbacks all play a role in becoming a better goaltender. Most importantly, Travis reminds goalies to stay present, enjoy the game, and appreciate the brotherhood that comes with playing lacrosse.
