Dutchmen sophomore goalie Donahue faces biggest test yet
Netminder who allowed 15 goals in a loss has led Union to DIII title game
On Sunday, Union men’s lacrosse sophomore goalie Dan Donahue will face the biggest test of his short college career when the Dutchmen play RIT for the NCAA Division III championship.
But Donahue, who earned the starting role as a freshman, is familiar with pressure.
“You always have pressure. Even this year I feel a little bit of pressure on my back,” Donahue said. “We have a really supportive defense and a lot of veteran guys who help me out and talk to me before games, or after.”
In particular, he said, backup goalie Reed Karaska taught him to “always have a short memory. If you let a goal in, forget about it. Don’t think about it for too much.”
That short memory served Donahue well after he allowed a seasonhigh 15 goals in a loss to St. Lawrence in the Liberty League semifinals.
“That was a big learning experience for us. We were kind of expecting to win,” Donahue said. “I thought about it for 24 hours, but after that it kind of got off my mind. I know we had bigger goals for this team.”
The Dutchmen have won four straight since then on their way to the title game. Donahue has made 50 saves and has a 56.1 save percentage in the tournament so far.
“He’s been a rock back there,” said coach Derek Witheford. “We wouldn’t be here without good goalie play, so we need him to play extremely well on Sunday, and I’m confident he’ll play well.”
On the season, Donahue has a 9.39 goals-against average, fourthbest in the Liberty League. He ranks third in the conference with a 57.4 save percentage, and third in saves per game with 12. RIT goalie Drew Hutchison leads the conference in GAA and save percentage, but ranks eighth in saves per game (9.64).
Donahue missed just one game this season, making 19 starts and going 17-2.
“He’s better in the clearing game. He communicates better with his defense, being a little older and not being that first-year. So we’re happy with the steps he’s taken,” Witheford said.
Donahue said it’s also gotten easier for him to manage the pressure from year to year, particularly as he’s learned to rely on his teammates.
“I just try to play my best every game, and if I’m not having a good game, there’s others that support me,” Donahue said.
He made 74 saves and allowed 62 goals (54.4 save percentage) in an abbreviated eight-game season as a freshman.
“Playing a freshman goalie in a conference like this, at a program like this, is a little worrisome, but he proved through practice every day that he was the guy, and I think he’s earned that from his first start till now,” Witheford said.
Donahue has been playing lacrosse since first grade, though he didn’t start out wanting to play in the net.
“I wasn’t originally a goalie, but then no one else on the team wanted to play, so I decided I’ll take that role, and ever since I’ve really loved it,” he said. “Just the thrill of making a save and the game’s on the line or something like that. Just making that save — even getting hit with the ball, it’s great.”