Poise Over Perfection with Stevenson goalie Tyler Merchant – Episode 280
By Coach Damon
Last updated: September 18, 2025
This episode is sponsored by Thigh Pro:
Today on the show, I’m fired up to sit down with Tyler Merchant, the starting goalie for Stevenson University.
Tyler’s journey to the crease is anything but typical, he grew up playing lacrosse in Tampa, Florida, far away from the traditional hotbeds, and only landed in goal by accident when his team’s goalie quit. What started as a fill-in role in eighth grade turned into a calling.
Tyler brings a unique mindset to the position. He’ll tell you himself he’s a perfectionist and an overthinker, traits that, at first, made the game harder, but ultimately pushed him to grind, to practice endlessly, and to keep improving. Along the way, he studied greats like Logan McNaney, modeled composure and poise, and learned that being a goalie is as much about resets and leadership as it is about saves.
We’ll talk about his recruiting path from Florida to boarding school up north, a stop at Catholic University, and now anchoring the defense at Stevenson. We’ll get into how he sharpened his game training with top coaches, working with Connor “The People’s Goalie,” and even how his ADHD, instead of holding him back, became a secret weapon for hyper focus and drive.
What I love about Tyler is that he understands the position in its full complexity: the chaos, the adrenaline, the leadership, the mental resets, and the pure joy of being in the cage. His perspective is mature beyond his years, and his advice to young goalies — to embrace the grind but never forget to enjoy the game — is gold.
Can’t wait for you all to hear this one.
Show Notes
Tyler Merchant Stick Setup
Video Interview with Tyler Merchant
Pics and Videos of Tyler Merchant
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