New England Lacrosse Journal‘s Chasing The Goal

Kyle Devitte and Owen Hart welcome Fork Union Military Academy head coach and athletic director Chris Panos to discuss the school’s structure and his lacrosse background. Panos explains Fork Union is a boys boarding school (grades 7-12) with postgraduate programs, including a PG lacrosse program he started, emphasizing discipline, no cell phones, a one-subject academic plan, and heavy strength and...

The guest is Andover boys head coach and owner of HGR Lacrosse, Bryan Brazill. He describes building HGR’s lacrosse-focused indoor turf facility near Lawrence Airport and discusses his relationship with Andover legend Wayne “Pug” Pugliese, now the athletic director. The group reflects on a frustrating, defense-heavy and unusually parity-driven Massachusetts season, speculating about COVID-era deve...

Kyle Devitte and Owen Hart discuss a difficult season personally and then preview the upcoming MIAA boys lacrosse playoffs, emphasizing how unusually unpredictable the year has been. They suggest parity might be influenced by more players leaving for prep/private schools and by broader talent saturation driven by youth coaching and participation (noting 208 Massachusetts varsity programs). They hi...

Kyle Devitte and Owen Hart discuss the season’s progression and April break week in Massachusetts lacrosse before interviewing Kings Lacrosse youth director Chris McGuirk. McGuirk contrasts lacrosse development in the 1990s — when many athletes picked up the sport later and could still find roles and rise — with today’s earlier, more specialized pathway. He recounts coaching in Portsmouth, N.H., b...

Kyle Devitte and Owen Hart interview Reading (Mass.) High School boys lacrosse head coach Rob Parkin about Reading’s 5–0 start and an emotional regular-season rematch with Billerica after last year’s 17–16 championship loss, emphasizing resilience, preparation and the team motto “attitude is everything.” Parkin discusses sportsmanship and Massachusetts lacrosse community ties, Division 2’s depth a...

Kyle and Mike Zhe preview New England prep lacrosse beyond the ISL, covering the Founders League, Lakes Region, NESLL, and girls prep rankings. In the Founders League they highlight Loomis Chaffee as the top returning team, with Choate and Taft as main challengers and Avon Old Farms a dark horse, plus notes on Hotchkiss, Trinity-Pawling, Westminster and others. In the Lakes Region they pick Holder...

Kyle Devitte and guest Mike Zhe preview the upcoming ISL boys lacrosse season using tiered rankings and coaches survey feedback, noting many new head coaches and emphasizing faceoffs, defense, depth and replacing graduated scoring. In the “looking to improve” tier, they discuss Brooks, BB&N, Groton, Lawrence Academy, St. George’s and St. Mark’s. In the next tier, they rank Roxbury Latin (10),...

Kyle and Owen welcome Billerica boys lacrosse coach Ryan Nickerson, the reigning MIAA Division 2 champion. Nickerson describes a preseason shaped by winter-sport athletes, weight training, and the long-running “Spring Meltdown” tune-up, then reflects on beating BC High by focusing on being the better team rather than public-vs-Catholic narratives. He emphasizes managing high school players’ emotio...

Kyle Devitte and Owen Hart discuss various aspects of lacrosse with Medfield High School head coach John Isaf. They delve into the dynamics of high school lacrosse in Massachusetts, including the impact of COVID-19, changes in MIAA divisions, participation trends, and the role of club lacrosse. Isaf provides insights into Medfield’s successful program, his coaching philosophy, dealing with the pre...

Kyle and Owen interview Matt Chandik, the Director of Communications for Dynamic Sports Management and Social Media Director of the National Lacrosse Federation. The discussion covers Matt's journey from writing for his college newspaper to becoming a key figure in lacrosse media and event management. They explore the intricacies of handling large-scale lacrosse events, the impact of social media...

Kyle and Owen sit down with Mike Silipo, the new head coach of St. Sebastian's lacrosse team. The podcast explores Silipo’s transition from a successful tenure at Boston University to taking the helm at St. Sebastian's. They discuss the intricacies of coaching at different levels, the importance of simplicity in strategy, and the nuances of the face-off and shot clock in modern lacrosse. Silipo sh...

Kyle and Owen, along with guest Marty Bowes, discuss various aspects of coaching youth lacrosse. Marty shares his experiences working as the Director of Coach and Player Education at Mass Youth Lacrosse, his journey into the role, and the importance of coach education. The conversation covers practical strategies for coaching youth players, such as implementing a three-second rule to promote quick...

Brooks coach Ian Speliotis joins Kyle and Owen. They discuss the challenges of logistics in off-season, the importance of family support, the excitement of college lacrosse, and the personal story behind Owen's allegiance to UNC. Speliotis shares insights into his background, his journey from being a student at Brooks to his coaching stint at Culver Academies, and his return to Brooks. They emphas...

Kyle and Owen chat with Elliott Bender, a renowned box lacrosse player and coach known from Instagram and TikTok as 'The Box Lacrosse Guy.' The discussion delves into the growing prominence of box lacrosse, its distinct differences from field lacrosse, and how Bender transitioned from a player to a content creator to fill the knowledge gap for American players. Elliott shares personal anecdotes, t...

Kyle and Owen are joined by new Clark University men's lacrosse coach Matt Colombini. The discussion covers Colombini’s background, his coaching philosophy, and the unique experiences at Emerson College. They delve into his approach to building a competitive lacrosse culture focusing on toughness, preparation, and team-first mentality. The conversation also touches on the challenges of recruiting...

Kyle and Owen are joined by Patrick Wallace from Goalie Gurus. The discussion covers the unique mentality and challenges of lacrosse goalies, including their psychological pressures and the evolution of goalie training techniques. Patrick shares his expertise on recruiting goalies, evaluating their performance, and the importance of mental health and leadership training. The conversation also touc...

Kyle and Owen are joined by Carter Rice, a standout midfielder for the Redwoods in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). They discuss the end of the college lacrosse season, the transition to professional play, and Rice's experiences and challenges in the PLL. The conversation also delves into Rice's time at Syracuse University, his transition from an offensive to a defensive midfielder, and his memo...

Kyle and Owen share their experiences from a summer packed with lacrosse tournaments and coaching. Kyle, broadcasting from a hotel in Scarborough, Maine, discusses his summer schedule, highlighting various tournaments like the New Hampshire-Vermont All-Star Game and the Legacy Tournament in Devens, Massachusetts. He also touches on the evolving dynamics of club teams and recruiting trends. Owen re...

Kyle and Owen welcome Ralph Nelson, a key figure in Maine's lacrosse landscape. It’s a comprehensive conversation revolving around the foundation and growth of Maine's lacrosse community. The trio discusses the successful creation of a summer league for college athletes, the challenges faced in organizing it, and the overwhelming buy-in from players. Ralph shares his coaching journey, from his ini...

The guest is Winchester High School head lacrosse coach Phil Reuland. The conversation covers several topics including the trials and tribulations of coaching, the impact of injuries, and the importance of adaptability in coaching strategies. Coach Reuland shares anecdotes from his extensive coaching career, emphasizing the need to tailor strategies to the strengths of the players, highlighting me...