LGR 290 - Lucy Pearson on Athletic Goalkeeping, Stanford Culture & the Mental Game

Lax Goalie Rat Podcast

Lax Goalie Rat Podcast
LGR 290 - Lucy Pearson on Athletic Goalkeeping, Stanford Culture & the Mental Game
Feb 09, 2026
Coach Damon Wilson

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Stanford goalie Lucy Pearson shares her journey from accidentally discovering the position to playing D1 lacrosse. 

We dive into the mental side of handling goals, why being athletic beats being robotic in cage, and how she evolved her communication from frantic to confident. 

Lucy breaks down Stanford's process-over-results mentality, shares how she got out of a slump by remembering to have fun, and explains why positive reinforcement makes constructive criticism land better. 

Plus: the power of squash for hand-eye coordination, coaching insights from Goaliesmith, and why you can't tie your identity to your performance.

Key Topics:

  • Mental approach to giving up goals
  • Athletic vs robotic playing style
  • Communication evolution (calm > frantic)
  • Stanford's team culture
  • Process over results mindset
  • Being more set/settled in goal
  • Getting out of slumps
  • Balancing identity and performance

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Episode Artwork LGR 290 - Lucy Pearson on Athletic Goalkeeping, Stanford Culture & the Mental Game 54:53 Episode Artwork LGR 289: Coaching For Life, Not Just Wins with Mark Lange 51:40 Episode Artwork LGR 288: Building Resilience and Performing Under Pressure with Dr. Kate Lund 37:48 Episode Artwork LGR 287: Back to Basics with UPenn Goalie Orly Sedransk 55:27 Episode Artwork LGR 286: Inside the Mind of Notre Dame Goalie Thomas Ricciardelli 53:46 Episode Artwork LGR 285: Reset and Respond with D3 Goalie Aaron D'Aversa 59:17 Episode Artwork LGR 284: Building the Brick Walls and Swagger with Fin Landi 1:03:33 Episode Artwork LGR 283: The Future Between the Pipes: Seamus Skelly’s Goalie Journey 41:41 Episode Artwork LGR 282: Goalie Gold with Adelphi Brick Wall Dylan Renner 53:45 Episode Artwork LGR 281: Goalies Mental Health and the Unmasked Documentary 35:39 Episode Artwork LGR 280: Poise Over Perfection with Stevenson goalie Tyler Merchant 1:03:41 Episode Artwork LGR 279: For the Love of the Game with Colorado Goalie Elena Oh 1:04:04 Episode Artwork LGR 278: The Fiery Competitor: Michael Ippoliti on Syracuse, Team Italy, and Goalie Life 59:29 Episode Artwork LGR 277: Oran Gelinas - Patience, Poise, and Big Saves for the Blue Jays 1:04:52 Episode Artwork LGR 276: From Crease to Commentary: Ray Carnicelli’s Lacrosse Journey 1:09:39 Episode Artwork LGR 275: Wise words and Big Dreams with Youth Goalie Kyrie Maradiaga 37:09 Episode Artwork LGR 274: Standing Tall in the Crease with Mercyhurst goalie Jaret Jawor 54:17 Episode Artwork LGR 273: Next Play, Next Save: Freshman Goalkeeper Owen Salanger's Rise at UMass 45:25 Episode Artwork LGR 272: Fairfield Goalie Owen Hirsch - Confidence Is Contagious 49:55 Episode Artwork LGR 271: Stay Confident and Calm with 2028 Female Goalie Maura Spicer 45:05 Episode Artwork LGR 270: Win the Little Things with Syracuse Goalie Danny Guyette 47:33 Episode Artwork LGR 269: Betty Nelson: Building Confidence in the Crease 55:06 Episode Artwork LGR 268: Mind Over Matter: Isabel Pithie’s Approach to Mental Toughness and Goalkeeping 59:54 Episode Artwork LGR 267: Connor Foley’s Baggy Style and Big Presence in Net 58:45 Episode Artwork LGR 266: Embracing the Pressure with St. Joe's goalie Tommy Gross 1:00:11