On today’s Lax Goalie Rat Podcast episode, Coach Damon sits down to chat with former Navy goalie John Connors.
The Mineola, NY native played his high school lacrosse at Chaminade, a powerhouse program that has produced so many talented goalies, including another former Navy goalie in Nolan Hickey and current Notre Dame All-American Liam Entenmann to name a few.
Connors was a three-year lacrosse letter winner, garnered New York Catholic High School Athletics Association All-League honors as a junior and senior, and was named an NYCHSAA All-American as a sophomore during his time at Chaminade.
John followed in the footsteps of his older brother Brendan and committed to Navy during his junior year of high school. While he had other offers from different programs Connors wanted to join the Midshipmen and join the likes of other former Navy goalie greats such as Matt Russell, Mickey Jarboe, and Nolan Hickey.
Connors became the starting goalie at Navy entering his sophomore season where he finished the season ranked 18th nationally in goals-against average (9.14), 24th in save percentage (53.5), and 26th in saves per game (10.36).
Connors really came into his own in his junior year earning Second-Team All-Patriot League and was a part of the Mids’ defensive unit that was ranked 13th in the country in scoring defense (8.57) and held 10 of its 14 opponents to single digits.
In his senior season, Connors was a part of an at-large bid Navy program that went on a bit of a run in the 2016 NCAA Tournament where they defeated Yale in the first round before putting on an unbelievable performance in his final game as a Midshipmen making 21 saves against albeit in a loss to Jack Kelly and the Brown Bears.
He would go on to be named the 2016 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and would win the Patriot League title with the Midshipmen finishing the year with .568 save %, .725 GAA, and 117 saves in his final year at Navy.
During his time at Navy Connors was a part of three NCAA Tournament qualifying teams, while leading Navy to a pair of Patriot League regular-season titles and two Patriot League Tournament crowns.
After his time at the Naval Academy, John would go on to serve in the Navy as a Nuclear Service Officer a job that entails understanding and standing watch over nuclear reactors for the Navy, and spent time working in San Diego, Charleston, and Norfolk.
John joins the show today to talk about playing at HS powerhouse Chamenade, understanding angles in the cage, the Navy tournament run in 2016, and much more!
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