In the Line of Fire

Try to imagine being a traffic cop in New York City at rush hour. Think about being unprotected against cars whizzing past you at high speeds and so close you can practically touch them. Playing goalie in lacrosse is not much different than directing traffic in a highly congested city. It's tough, nerve-wracking, and definitely not for the faint of heart.

 "We always say it takes 80 percent tough and 20 percent crazy to play goalie," said Alex Whitten, head coach of the New Canaan Rams lacrosse team. "You have to be a little nuts to stand in there with the amount of padding they don't have. The ball can move in excess of 90 miles per hour and it's three times heavier than a baseball."

And when ball meets flesh, there are consequences. After a game or a practice, a goalie's body can resemble a dimpled golf ball, with red welts and bruises canvassing their entire frame. 

"When you sign up to be a goalie, you sign up to get hit with the ball," said junior goalie Thomas Cary. "I've broken my thumb a couple times, and have taken shots that cause mind-numbing pain. But it's part of the game and you have to take it for what it is." 

Playing goalie in lacrosse is an adrenaline junkie's dream. There is the throat-drying, palm-sweating pressure, and the natural high that comes with playing the most important position on the field. 

"It's a rush," said senior goalie Jimmy Joe Granito. "I like quarterbacking the defense and you have the power to completely change the game with any shot. If you have an All-American coming down the field and stop the shot from three yards a way, it's a rush and it can change the complexion of the game.

Goalies can change the game with a save, but they can also determine the outcome with their versatility and intelligence. 

"You really want your best athlete in the cage, because they have to do a lot of different things," Whitten said. "They have to know what the offensive set is and how it's going to dictate the slide package. And they have to remember who the shooters are and what their tendencies are. There's a lot going on."

Goalies take the field with virtually the same equipment as position players, which is very little. About the only real differences between the two are,  the goalies baskets are a lot bigger and the pressure they must withstand, much greater. 

"I like being in position where I can determine the outcome of the game," said Carey who has already committed to attend Bryant University. "I like putting the weight of the game on my shoulders, and see the outcome of the game reflect in my performance." 

Carey and Granito performed well enough to earn commitments with Division I programs. Granito will play at Loyola (MD) after prepping for a year at Trinity Pawling. They will be a big factor in how far the Rams go this season.

 "They are two of the best in the state," said Whitten, who's in his fourth year as head coach of the Rams. "They both bring a different dynamic to the game. Jimmy Joe is a little grittier. Tom is more of finesse player." Gritty or finesse, it definitely takes a different breed to play goalie in lacrosse. A very different breed.