What are the best lacrosse goalie stick setups used by top NCAA players. How can goalies properly maintain their sticks to improve performance and longevity. What key factors should goalies consider when choosing and caring for their equipment.
Top NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Goalie Stick Setups
The equipment choices of elite NCAA goalies can provide valuable insights for players at all levels. Let’s examine the stick setups used by goalies on the top 20 ranked NCAA men’s lacrosse teams as of March 2018:
- Albany – JD Colarusso: STX Eclipse 2 head, 12 diamond mesh, attack length shaft
- Maryland – Dan Morris: Under Armour Headline head, 12 diamond mesh, mid-length shaft
- Duke – Danny Fowler: STX Eclipse head, 12 diamond mesh, attack length shaft
- Denver – Alex Ready: OG Warrior Nemesis head, 17 diamond mesh, attack length shaft
A clear trend emerges with most top goalies opting for renowned heads like the STX Eclipse paired with 12 diamond mesh. Attack length shafts are also popular, likely for the added reach and leverage they provide.
Essential Goalie Stick Care Tips
Proper maintenance is crucial for preserving your goalie stick’s performance and lifespan. Here are some key tips:
Let Your Stick Breathe
How should you store your goalie stick after use? Never leave gear on the stick or prop it up with weight on the head, as this can warp the plastic. Instead, rest the head face-down against a wall with the pocket pushed out to maintain its shape.
Practice Good Stick Hygiene
Why is cleaning your stick important? Mud and dirt can alter your pocket and affect performance if left to dry. Rinse muddy sticks with warm water, wipe away debris, then let dry face-down. This preserves mesh life and pocket consistency.
Store at Room Temperature
What temperature conditions can damage your stick? Extreme cold can make plastic brittle while heat and humidity can warp heads. Keep sticks in climate-controlled areas when possible, or bring to room temperature before use.
Protect Your Stick from Others
Should you let teammates use your stick? It’s best to prevent others from using your game stick, as improper handling can alter the pocket or potentially damage the head. Offer a backup stick instead if needed.
Choosing the Right Goalie Head
The goalie head is perhaps the most critical component of the setup. Popular options among NCAA goalies include:
- STX Eclipse series
- Under Armour Headline
- Warrior Nemesis
- Brine Eraser
What factors should goalies consider when selecting a head? Key aspects include the overall shape, stiffness, stringing holes, and scoop design. Many goalies prefer wider faces for maximum coverage and stiffer plastics for durability.
Goalie Mesh Options Explained
Mesh selection can significantly impact a goalie’s performance. Common choices include:
- 12 diamond – Offers a good balance of hold and release
- 17 diamond – Provides a softer feel and potentially more hold
- 20 diamond – Maximum hold but can be slower to release
How does mesh density affect goalie play? Denser mesh patterns generally offer more ball control and a softer pocket feel, while wider diamonds can provide quicker ball release. Weather conditions and personal preference play a role in choosing the optimal mesh.
Importance of Proper Stringing for Goalies
Why is stringing crucial for goalie sticks? The pocket’s depth, shape, and tension directly impact ball control, outlet passes, and overall feel. Many top goalies use custom stringing to achieve their desired pocket characteristics.
What are some key stringing considerations for goalies?
- Channel width – Affects ball control and release
- Pocket depth – Influences hold and outlet passing
- Shooting strings – Can fine-tune release and accuracy
- Sidewall tension – Impacts overall pocket responsiveness
Goalie Shaft Length and Material Choices
Goalie shaft preferences vary, with options including:
- Attack length (shorter)
- Defensive length (longer)
- Custom cut lengths
What are the pros and cons of different shaft lengths? Shorter shafts offer quicker stick handling, while longer shafts provide more reach for intercepting passes and initiating clears. Material choices like aluminum, titanium, or composite can affect weight and durability.
Weather Considerations for Goalie Equipment
How does weather impact goalie gear performance? Different conditions may call for equipment adjustments:
- Cold weather – Can make plastic brittle, consider warming sticks before use
- Hot weather – May cause heads to soften, store in cool areas when possible
- Wet conditions – Waxed mesh or weather-resistant materials can help maintain consistency
What precautions should goalies take in extreme weather? Always allow equipment to acclimate to playing conditions and consider backup options for varying weather scenarios.
Customizing Your Goalie Stick for Optimal Performance
How can goalies personalize their setups for peak performance? Consider these customization options:
- Tape grips for improved hold and feel
- Custom dyes or designs for identification
- Breakin techniques to soften mesh
- Experimenting with different stringing patterns
Why is experimentation important? Every goalie has unique preferences and playing styles. Trying various setups can help you find the perfect combination that enhances your strengths and improves weaknesses.
Remember, while equipment choices are important, they are no substitute for proper technique and consistent practice. The best goalie stick setup is one that feels comfortable and allows you to play with confidence.
4 Simple Tips for Taking Care of Your Goalie Stick
The goaltender’s stick takes a serious beating throughout the season. Through that time the goalie sees hundreds of shots that cause mesh to tear and heads to break from inclement weather conditions.
To help the young and old tenders, I have come up with 4 simple tips to take care of your goalie stick to get you through the season and many more to come.
#1 Let It Breathe
NEVER leave your gear on your stick, whether it’s after practice in the back of your car or propped up against a wall to dry. The weight from the gear resting on the head can warp the plastic. When a head warps the pocket can change and it will typically weaken the integrity plastic of the head.
Instead: Without any gear on the stick, rest the cross face first against a wall with the pocket pushed out. This will combat warping and prevent your pocket from becoming misshapen.
Oh yeah, get a gear bag and treat your stick with respect!
#2 Practice Stick Hygiene
DO NOT leave dirt on the head or mesh after a muddy game/practice. The mud can seep into the mesh fibers, which in turn could alter your pocket leaving you with a hard, inaccurate, dirt-incrusted mess. Respect your stick and give it a scrub down every now, treat it how you want it to treat you.
Instead: If your stick is muddy, rinse off your pocket with warm water and wipe away any big chunks of mud out the mesh and head.
After you did your best to clean the mesh, push the pocket out, prop it up against a wall face down to dry. Store it the same way as in Tip #1 to extend the life of your mesh along with keeping the shape of your pocket.
#3 Room Temperature is Gold
TRY NOT to store your stick in a cold place for long periods of time and then bring it to play a game or pick-up with. It can weaken the plastic and make it brittle.
One good shot to the side or scoop of the head can lead to a break in the plastic.
Also, really hot and humid temperatures can negatively affect the plastic too. Sticks like the same weather you do!
Instead: If you can, keep your sticks inside where it’s climate controlled and propped up like I mentioned before. If you can’t keep the crosse inside, try to bring the stick indoors for about an hour before leaving for a game. This allows the plastic to warm up or cool down making the chances of head breakage much less likely.
#4 Friends Don’t Touch Friends’ Crosses
PREVENT IF POSSIBLE any friends or teammates from using your stick and playing around with it at practice or on the sideline at games. You’ve become accustom to your stick throwing a certain way. If you let your friends use it, they could alter the way it throws from improper care. You could be left with a stick you are unfamiliar with and the headache of fixing it, or worse, a broken head.
Instead: Explain to your teammates that you would like them to NOT play around with your stick and leave it be if left unattended. You could even offer your back up’s back up to let them mess around with!
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These 4 simple tips take little to no time to execute. They seem small, but can extended the life of your stick and save yourself money on buying new mesh and heads every season.
Take care of your gear, and your gear will take care of you!
Following these tips personally for the last 9 years as a goaltender, I believe have allowed me to keep a stick that I regularly use for at least 5 years. I hope these tips help you on your venture as a goaltender and wish you good luck in your upcoming season.
2018 NCAA Men’s Top 20 Goalie Stick Setups
By Coach Damon
With the 2018 NCAA men’s lacrosse season underway it’s time to check in on the stick setups of the top 20 men’s teams.
I’ve done posts like this in the previous year –
But now we’re back with the 2018 version.
This list of Top 20 teams was taken from ranking as of March 5th, 2018. By the time you read this post the current men’s top 20 might look very different as it continues to shape and morph all season long.
But as of right now, here are the top 20 teams, their goalies, and those goalies lacrosse stick setups.
2018 NCAA Men Lacrosse Goalie Stick Setups
1. Albany – JD Colarusso
A post shared by UAlbany Men’s Lacrosse (@ualbanymlax) on
- Head: STX Eclipse 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack Length
2. Maryland – Dan Morris
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A post shared by Maryland Men’s Lacrosse (@terpsmlax) on
- Head: Under Armour Headline
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Mid length
3. Duke – Danny Fowler
A post shared by Duke Men’s Lacrosse (@dukemlax) on
- Head: STX Eclipse
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack length
4. Denver – Alex Ready
- Head: OG Warrior Nemesis
- Mesh: 17 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack length
5. Villanova – Nick Testa
- Head: STX Eclipse
- Mesh: 17 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack length
6.
Syracuse – Dom Madonna
- Head: STX Eclipse 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Medium Length
7. Loyola – Jacob Stover
- Head: STX Eclipse 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack Length
8. Virginia – Griffen Thompson
A post shared by Virginia Men’s Lacrosse (@uvamenslax) on
- Head: Warrior Nemesis 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack length
9. North Carolina – Jack Pezzula
A post shared by UNC Lacrosse (@uncmenslacrosse) on
- Head: STX Shield
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Medium Length
10.
Yale – Jack Starr
- Head: STX Eclipse 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Medium Length
11. Notre Dame – Matt Schmidt
- Head: STX Eclipse
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Mid length
12. Army – AJ Barretto
- Head: Brine Eraser
- Mesh: 17 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack length
13. Rutgers – Max Edelmann
A post shared by Rutgers Men’s Lacrosse (@rutgersmlax) on
- Head: STX Shield
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack Length
14. Ohio State – Matthew Smidt
- Head: STX Eclipse
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Mid length
15.
Vermont – Nick Washuta
A post shared by UVM Athletics (@uvmathletics) on
- Head: Warrior Nemesis 2
- Mesh: 17 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack length
16. Georgetown – Nick Marrocco
Hoya of the Week: Nick Marrocco @HoyasMLacrosse #HoyaSaxa pic.twitter.com/u88OvJ1Zei
— Hoya Equipment (@HoyaEquipment) April 11, 2016
- Head: STX Shield
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack Length
17. Johns Hopkins – Brock Turnbaugh
- Head: Under Armour Headline
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Mid length
18.
Marquette – Cole Blazer
- Head: STX Eclipse 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Mid Length
19. Penn – Reed Junkin
- Head: STX Eclipse 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack Length
20. Penn State – Colby Kneese
- Head: STX Eclipse 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack Length
Bonus: Just Outside Top 20
When I first started this post Princeton was in the top 20 but they fell out with a loss. Nevertheless, we’ll keep them here in our goalie stick setup post.
Princeton – Tyler Blaisdell
A post shared by Princeton Men’s Lacrosse (@princetonlax) on
- Head: Brine Eraser 2
- Mesh: 12 Diamond
- Shaft: Attack Length
Conclusion
There you have it – 21 goalies, 21 stick setups.
Let’s recap the numbers.
Head:
- STX Eclipse 2 – 7
- STX Shield – 4
- STX Eclipse – 3
- Warrior Nemesis 2 – 3
- Under Armour Headline – 2
- Brine Eraser – 1
- Brine Eraser 2 – 1
Mesh:
- 12 Diamond – 17
- 17 Diamond – 4
Shaft:
- Attack Length – 13
- Mid Length – 8
Right away we can see with the introduction of the STX Eclipse 2 goalie head, many NCAA goalies have made the upgrade to the latest and great. However there are a few goalies who hanging onto the STX Eclipse still.
I think the thing that surprises me the most out of all these numbers is the number of goalies using the STX Shield – 4.
I’ve played around with the Shield and I found it way too heavy for my liking. But that’s why each goalie is unique.
Also interesting to see a few goalies using the Brine Eraser and Brine Eraser 2. I had heard that the Brine Eraser was one of the most underrated heads out there but in all honesty I haven’t played with it.
