Garrett Degnon has endured many challenges through the course of his college career at Johns Hopkins, but he has persevered through all of them.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound graduate attackman has played in 52 games with 47 starts since 2021, posting 120 goals and 17 assists during that time. He is riding a 36-game goal-scoring streak, the longest by a Hopkins player since Ryan Brown scored in 37 straight from 2013-2016.
Fresh off their massive win against Virginia on March 2, emotions are still running high for the Blue Jays, now ranked No. 2 nationally. It marked the Cavaliers’ first loss to Hopkins since 2018, sending the Doyle Smith Cup back to Baltimore.
“This is the first time I have beaten Virginia in my longer career, so it definitely felt good,” Degnon said on Glenn Clark Radio March 5. “But at Hopkins every weekend is honestly a big game, so you’ll see that emotion most weekends, but this past one was a little extra special.”
The Harwood, Md., native and DeMatha graduate has encountered a coaching change, a pandemic and disappointing seasons at Hopkins, making the team’s success last year and at the start of this season even sweeter.
Getting Johns Hopkins lacrosse back to the level it is accustomed to is what drives Degnon. His focus remains to complete and perform at the highest level.
“The main big thing is just having confidence in ourselves,” Degnon said. “We’ve had the talent ever since I’ve been here, it’s just maybe sometimes we lack the confidence or even lack the trust in each other, so I think just the tightness of the group, how tight we are off the field, [carries] over to the game field and trusting each other and feeling comfortable in these big games and knowing that we belong in big games.”
The Jays entered the 2024 season with a lot of belief, but they were humbled at home following a loss to Denver, now ranked No. 1 nationally. It was important to respond the way they have in the weeks that followed, with five straight wins.
“Obviously losing stinks and that one stung for sure — the home opener, the first game of the season,” Degnon said. “… One point that I brought up was just that we’re going to learn from it. I think our group works best when we don’t have all the hype and No. 1 in the country. I think we work best when we’re underdogs.”
Degnon moved from midfield to attack during the 2022 season. He credits his production as an attackman to the support he has received from his teammates, who have allowed him to shine when it matters. He also spent countless hours honing his skills in the back yard with his dad and older brother growing up.
Crafty finishes have become Degnon’s signature, like this one against Virginia:
“I think I noticed my ability to shoot and finish early on in high school. … I was able to finish the ball when I was open, so I kind of realized it then,” Degnon said.
Degnon’s path to play at Hopkins was not inevitable. Hopkins was the school that stepped up and took a chance on him after he was passed over by other programs. Playing for one of the best lacrosse programs in the history of the sport was easy.
“I always wanted lacrosse to be a way I could get an education that I maybe wouldn’t have without it,” Degnon said.
Having won at Virginia, the conversations remain hyper-focused on continuing to chase perfection through the rest of the season.
Up next, the Blue Jays take on No. 9 Syracuse on March 9 in Charlotte, then they return to Homewood Field on March 15 to match up against local rival Navy.
For more from Degnon, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Johns Hopkins Athletics