Skylar Lacerda
Maddy Schlosser in goal ready to save a shot. In just her second year on the team, Schlosser saved 412 goals to end her senior season.
Senior girls lacrosse goalie Maddy Schlosser reached an accomplishment very few high school goalies ever achieve: 400 career saves. She ended her senior season against Holmdel on May 28, where she recorded her 400th save. Schlosser started her lacrosse career as a junior, making this milestone even more impressive.
Starting a brand new sport late into junior year of high school is not common. With a delayed start, being successful on the varsity level is very rare, however, Schlosser proved that with both athleticism and determination, anything is possible. When the team was looking for a goalie, she took up this opportunity. Schlosser picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time just a few days before her junior season started, and was in goal for her first game ever.
As a captain for both the soccer and basketball teams, her determination and grit elevated her game. Now as a senior, reaching this accomplishment shows how her hard work has paid off.
“Four hundred saves means a lot because I think it’s a reflection of how hard I have worked and how I did not back down from this tough challenge of trying a new sport,” Schlosser said. “If you told me last season that I would reach 400 saves, I wouldn’t have believed you. But this season, it was a goal I wanted to reach. I was taken by surprise, but at the same time, I was going to do everything I could to get there.”
Achieving 400 saves isn’t easy, especially at a high level with just two years of experience. Most shots saved are coming from some of the best attackers in New Jersey. She holds herself to the highest standards and never gives up. Head coach Samantha Minnella said Schlosser is a successful goalie despite having less experience than most players on the field.
“Maddy has no fear in the net and never wants to let her teammates down,” Minnella said. “She carries the weight of being the last one before a goal with pride and takes this very seriously. This makes her successful because she cares. She puts herself into situations at practice that will improve her game. She is always trying to get better which makes her so successful.”
Schlosser thrives by keeping a positive mindset and learning from her mistakes. She shows up everyday trying to be better than she was the day before. She gives lots of credit to her teammates and coaches for helping her grow into the player she is now.
“My teammates and coaches have never made me feel bad about missing a save,” Schlosser said. “They were always uplifting and encouraged me when I was feeling down. My defense is always the first people to tell me I’m playing great even when I do let a goal in. I also could not have asked for a better coaching staff. They devoted their time to make sure I was okay and helping me become a better player.”
Schlosser’s success is more than just the milestone of 400 saves. Through her perseverance and unwavering focus, Schlosser proved the sky is the limit. She knows how to handle the pressure as her teammates and coaches are her biggest supporters. Minnella said Schlosser’s accomplishments reflect the culture of the lacrosse program.
“I think Maddy’s story is a reflection of how the lacrosse team is more than just about the sport, it is about the players and the sisterhood they have within this program,” Minnella said. “I hope it encourages more students to try new things and to step out of their comfort zone. The lacrosse program prides itself on being a family, and I am so happy that Maddy joined when she did.”
