Determination has led A-B’s Kilfoyle into goal
The best lacrosse goalies focus on their training, stretching, and pre-game routines so that they’re in position to succeed on the field.
In that sense, Acton-Boxborough junior Luke Kilfoyle has been preparing for that role his entire life.
At 15 months, Kilfoyle was diagnosed with cerebral palsy — a group of disorders that affect balance and posture.
Still, he played youth lacrosse from first to eighth grade, forming bonds so strong that he felt compelled to stick with the sport in high school, only he was unsure if he could make it as an attackmen. So Kilfoyle tried out as a goalie, and excelled at the sub-varsity level despite facing numerous challenges.
When first-string goalie Patrick Cardone suffered a concussion last week, Kilfoyle’s number was called, and he excelled with nine saves in his varsity debut, a 17-6 win over Burlington.
“I definitely felt a little nervous before the game,” said Kilfoyle, “but I find motivation in my support system. I have a great team at Boston Children’s [Hospital] and they’ve never put limitations on my dreams. Along with my parents, friends, and coaches, that’s a big reason I’m still playing today.”
Kilfoyle has worked with physical therapists to craft an intense stretching regiment that he does three times daily in order to avoid muscle seizures or other complications. He has to keep an eye on pain management by limiting the intensity of workouts and using rest days strategically, but he’s been able to steadily improve his strength and stability.
“All last summer, we’d push each other,” said Kilfoyle’s teammate, Jay Keenan. “We’d go to the gym and he’d stretch, work out, and do the right things to get his movements ready for the season.
“I know how hard he works in [physical therapy]. It pushes you to go the extra mile, and to work as hard as you can for your teammates.”
Cerebral palsy can create challenges during growth spurts, and Kilfoyle sprouted over 2 inches in middle school, causing his left femur to grow at an incorrect angle.
The following year, he was cut from the golf team because the leg was affecting his stance. His mobility continued to decrease, so he elected for a procedure called Femoral derotational osteotomy.
On Aug. 11, 2022, Kilfolye underwent surgery at Boston Children’s, then spent five months progressing from a wheelchair to his own two feet. By the end of January, he was able to start training for lacrosse season, and he started every game for the A-B junior varsity last spring.
“When you read about that [procedure] it’s like, ‘Oh man, this kid has kind of been through hell and back,’ and its more than impressive that he’s not only playing lacrosse, but playing goalie,” said A-B coach Pat Ammendolia. “It’s the hardest position in the sport and he gets the job done.
“When you take a step back and think, it’s bigger for him to be playing this position than anyone before him, but he doesn’t act that way. He just goes out there and gives it all for the team.”
Kilfoyle followed his debut with eight saves in Tuesday’s 15-2 win over Waltham, and he will start until Cardone is able to return.
Inspired by the guidance and expertise of his physical therapists, Kilfoyle did not hesitate when asked what he wants to do later in life. The Acton resident plans to study to become a physical therapist.
“I’ve gone through a lot of PT in my life, and I wouldn’t be the person I am without it,” said Kilfoyle. "I want to do that for kids like me.”
“I definitely wasn’t 100 percent last season,” Kilfoyle added. “But after a lot of work, now I feel great. This is the best I’ve ever felt, and it really means a lot to be part of this group on varsity. We all grew up playing youth and looking up to the kids on varsity. It’s just an incredible feeling.”
Quick sticks
Again, spring vacation week has a robust tourney schedule.
R The Chowda Cup features eight teams playing three games each, moving from Cohasset (Tuesday) to Norwell (Thursday), before the finals next weekend in Scituate.
First round: Falmouth at Cohasset (10 a.m.), Marshfield vs. Mansfield (noon), Scituate vs. Hanover (2 p.m.) and Westwood vs. Norwell (4 p.m.).
R The opening round of the Coaches’ Cup is being spread across four sites, with two of the four games having already been played on Friday — Wellesley beat Bay State Conference rival Natick, 11-7, and Bridgewater-Raynham topped Dover-Sherborn, 15-13.
Lincoln-Sudbury visits Winchester Thursday, and Hingham heads to Concord-Carlisle Tuesday to close out the round.
A week from Thursday, the 18th, there are four games in Natick. The finals are a week from Saturday in Winchester.
R The Players’ Cup has four first-round games Tuesday: Xaverian at Duxbury (4 p.m.) and Needham at Acton-Boxborough (4 p.m.) forming Bracket 1, while BC High at Reading (6 p.m.) and North Andover at Melrose (11 a.m.) make up Bracket 2. In the second round, there are doubleheaders at Xaverian (Bracket 1) and North Andover (Bracket
2). BC High will host the finals a week from Saturday.
R Marblehead won its 62nd straight Northeastern Conference contest in a 6-5 victory over Beverly . . . Attleboro coach Jim Black picked up his first win with a 7-5 victory over Oliver Ames . . . Burlington took down defending D4 state champion Cohasset, 9-8, on a late goal from freshman Daniel Hanafin (4 goals, 2 assists) in his first varsity start . . . Andover is 2-0 with a pair of onegoal wins, a 14-13 thriller at Xaverian and a 6-5 MVC win over Central Catholic.