Navy men’s lacrosse senior Pat Ryan recently chatted with PressBox about playing in an Army-Navy game, the former Mids who helped him develop as a goalie and more. The 5-foot-10, 213-pound goalie posted a 10.07 goals-against average and .530 save percentage for Navy in 2022, his first year as the starter in goal. Ryan is a native of Groton, Mass., and graduate of Groton School.
PressBox: How did you become interested in lacrosse?
Pat Ryan: My middle school had one of one of the weird spring breaks for that age group — two weeks in the middle of March, which is really awesome to be able to travel and see Division I lacrosse games because I knew I always wanted to play at this level. At that age, in fifth grade, I wasn’t quite sure yet where. I come from a military family. I’m fourth-generation, so the military had always been on the radar. My mom and I drove up to snowy Colgate and watched the Mids run the flag out onto the field and play Colgate. I owe it to my mom and I said, “I know where I want to go to school.” Since the middle of March in fifth grade, I had my heart set on coming to the Academy. It worked out pretty well. I’m very thankful for [it].
PB: With that in mind, why was going to the Naval Academy so important to you?
PR: I’ve always thought of it as a selfless profession. It’s been huge in my family. My uncle, [Pete Cawley], and grandfather, [Ed Cawley], are both pilots. I grew up idolizing them. It was always in and around my family and it was something I wanted to [pursue], especially with the benefit of playing lacrosse. It was definitely something I wanted to follow.
PB: Who were the big influences on your game growing up?
PR: One of my youth coaches, Tim Madigan, had a huge impact on not only my play on the field but more so growing up and becoming a good human. I’d say him as well as my high school head coach, Bob Low, have had tremendous impacts on not just the way I played but who I’ve become.
PB: What is your favorite memory so far at Navy?
PR: I would have to go with either beating Hopkins at Homewood or probably beating No. 6 West Point up at West Point in the Army-Navy game, especially in overtime with the way Jack Sweeney [won it after] losing out on a starting spot but still working his tail off to stay on the field, and then having that moment where he catches the ball inside and finds a hole to score and win the game is something I’ll always remember.
PB: What’s it like to play in an Army-Navy game?
PR: It was intense. There were a lot of people in that stadium. It was a beautiful day. I remember before the game I was still super nervous for my first Army-Navy game, having a spot on the field to play. I got to see Spencer Rees the year before have an unbelievable game and really shut down another highly-ranked team when we were just cracking into the rankings. So I knew I had big shoes to fill, especially in that game. It was awesome to see the way the team stepped up and played a great game. Of course, West Point is such a talented team. It was so great to get one over on them.
PB: How did you develop as a goalie during your first two years at Navy despite not playing much?
PR: My freshman year we had another great goalie who had his season cut short due to COVID [in] Ryan Kern, but [both Kern and Rees] really took me under their wings. I had the opportunity to really watch and learn from them and see how they handled moments and how I would do the same or maybe handle things differently. Definitely pieces and parts of their game I’ve tried to pick up throughout the three, four years now I’ve been here.
PB: Do you have a signature look as a goalie?
PR: I find myself really liking the look of nice, clean, white long-sleeved [undershirts].
PB: What’s your favorite thing about the Naval Academy?
PR: I would say more so the guys on the lacrosse team, the camaraderie we have just through all of the extra stuff we get to do. [It] just brings us really, really tight, so I’d definitely say the camaraderie amongst the team.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Annapolis?
PR: I would say the same thing, but Annapolis is not a bad spot to go to school. It’s a great spot, great weather most of the year. It’s great to spend time with the guys out in town. Whether it’s getting bites to eat or just hanging out at some of the local guys’ houses on weekends, it’s great.
PB: What’s it like to practice right on the water?
PR: It’s beautiful, especially when we get later in the spring. It’s great weather, nice breeze right off the water — cuts the humidity. It’s a really beautiful place and it makes you realize how fortunate we all are to play lacrosse here.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
PR: I would say Scott Stensrud, Gabe Craven or Henry Rentz. Gabe and I are both goalies, so there’s always a natural bond there. Scottie and I are I would say pretty similarly-minded, just crazy coming from a goalie and an LSM turned long stick, faceoff, utility player on the wing — also an awesome, crazy driven person. Henry is originally a Boston guy, so we played each other in high school, played each other on a club team, still kind of growing up and playing lacrosse. It dovetailed really nicely here and we’re great friends.
PB: Were there any players other than goalies who you looked up to when you got to the Academy?
PR: I would say our two captains, Tom Evans and Brad Alexander — just the way they led the team, especially through a tough time like every school had to go through [with] COVID. Still super close with those guys, just the way they kind of developed. Our class took a lot from that senior class, as I think every freshman class does from their senior class — especially in leadership and their tenacity on the field.
PB: What advice do you have for younger players who are in the recruiting process?
PR: Something I picked up only once I got to college is having a sense of pride in my weak hand. I remember growing up, in line drills it was almost an expectation that the goalie would only use their strong hand, in my case my right hand. But definitely have taken a bit of pride in [having a strong weak hand since] coming to the Academy and playing at the next level.
PB: What are your goals for after lacrosse?
PR: Be the best Naval officer I can be, lead the people I have the opportunity to the best I can and fun while doing it.
Photo Credit: Phil Hoffmann/Navy Athletics
Issue 279: February/March 2023
Originally published Feb. 15, 2023