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Elizabeth “EJ” Johnson’s journey to becoming a Division I goalie at Michigan started in the most chaotic way possible, getting peppered with shots by her older brother and his friends in backyard street hockey.
What began as “you have to play goalie if you want to join” quickly turned into a passion. By the time she stepped onto the lacrosse field, she wasn’t afraid of the ball, she welcomed it.
Growing up in Concord, New Hampshire, EJ developed her game through trial and error, backyard reps with her dad, and learning from online resources and goalie mentors. Her mindset was simple: get as many shots as possible and never be afraid to try new techniques.
At Saint Paul’s School, she built a strong foundation alongside teammates who pushed her to improve, eventually earning her spot at the University of Michigan.
Now in her freshman year, EJ has already stepped into high-pressure moments, proving she belongs at the Division I level. Facing top competition early in her career, she’s shown poise beyond her years, coming up with clutch saves and playing with confidence in big moments, including overtime situations. Her ability to trust her defense, stay composed, and rise to the moment has made an immediate impact.
There, she’s taken her game to the next level, adjusting to faster shots, refining her angles, and learning from elite mentors like Aaron O’Grady.
But what separates EJ isn’t just her skill, it’s her mindset.
Whether it’s repeating affirmations like “I’m a beast” or stepping into overtime moments believing “I’m built for this,” she plays with confidence, trust in her teammates, and love for the game.
Enjoy my conversation with stellar freshman goalie Elizabeth Johnson!
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Lacrosse is my passion! The game has given me so much and this blog is my way of giving back to the lax community. Specifically the most bad a$$ part of that community - the goalies! After learning to play goalie from scratch, I wanted to create a site where I could share what I learned with others so they too can become champions in the crease and in life. Learn more about Coach Damon.
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