The Goalie, the Bromance, and the Rubber Ball

While Monday’s National Championship game is still fresh in my mind and not too far gone, I want to dissect a few issues that have evolved in my head over the past few days. First things first, C.J. Costabile’s goal was absolutely outstanding. It was amazingly clear to see how bad he wanted to be a National Champion that day. After that goal, the way he played the rest of the tournament made that much more sense. However, someone else’s demeanor on that field was a lot more fascinating to me: Scott Rodgers.

Watching Notre Dame’s goalie slowly walk out of the crease, past the fleeing Duke squad, unbuckle his helmet and look into the sky tells a story worth telling. Looking back on that moment in time, it’s hard for me to not think that there were invisible ropes holding up his shoulders and chin. He carried himself off that field in a remarkable fashion. In my mind, Scott Rodgers played the most brilliant game of his career. He was a general out there. He made saves he shouldn’t have. I want to compare it to a skydiver heaving himself out of a plane with no parachute and absolutely no reservations about doing so. He went head first into that game and never looked back. If I was in his position, I would have found myself in a melted mess underneath a pile of Blue Devils entering nirvana.

These past few days, I recognized the appreciation I have for lacrosse goaltenders. Call it a “bromance” if you want. Last Friday, I saw the same mannerisms in the goalie of the high school team that I coach as he walked off the field of our section quarterfinal game, where we lost in overtime. Here is a sixteen, maybe seventeen-year-old kid, who probably has no clue as to the difference between Freud and Piaget, leading his team through an “epic battle,” i.e. the best game they have played all year. This high school goaltender has some of the most quiet gestures off the field. If I wrote an encyclopedia, under “polar opposites,” I would write, “PLHS goalie and Jared Allen.” This kid stood in front of shots you couldn’t pay me $500 to get hit in the shin with.

Come to think of it, all great goalies amaze me. Syracuse’s John Galloway’s clearing expertise absolutely baffles me. His enthusiasm, his willingness to put his team first, makes me so proud to be a part of the great sport that is lacrosse. Playing with Josh Hofstad this past season as a fellow Gopher was incredible. When some “dumb” freshman pegged him in the shin from six yards in practice, he didn’t lash out and quit, he slowly walked out of the crease, gathered himself for literally one second and got back in front of the 36 square foot cage. The guy is my hero. I couldn’t have done anything that I did on the field without him on it with me.

I don’t know if I can specifically describe what Scott Rodgers did that inspired me to spill my heart. But I’ll do my best: he carried himself with more bravery, courage, pride, and valor than I can comprehend. And what was amazing about that was that his team had just lost the National Championship. Of course he was upset and disappointed, but the strength that it must have taken to carry himself off the field with his chest out, chin up, and eyes bright, had to be an insurmountable amount.



Comments

[Ian Gallagher]

He patted the shooter on the head and said "Great Shot" after giving up the biggest goal of his life. Nothing but class