Jon Brand

  (1:00 PM)

What's up, everyone? We've got Syracuse sophomores John Galloway (goalie) and Stephen Keogh (attackman) here today to chat about lax and their season. The Orange host Johns Hopkins tomorrow at 2 p.m. Head to InsideLacrosse.com to follow all the action... Let's get chatting.

Brian NY

John, what kind of drills do you do in the off-season to improve your skills in the cage?

John Galloway

  (1:02 PM)

I think goalies can work on alot of different aspects of their game in the offseason. I work on my footwork with jumprope and ladder drills and Coach Donahue has given me a ton of hand eye coordination drills to prep me for season. the one thing i concentrate on is not seeing too much rubber.

Jeff(Cortland NY)

John- Amazing game last weekend. I noticed you tape your stick a specific way before the games. Any reason for this? Also, is there any way i can get your autograph after home games, as your my favorite player!

John Galloway

  (1:04 PM)

My coach in high school made the goalies tape the stick at two places: where my top hand goes and my bottom hand which he made us measure with our shoulder width. I used to use yellow tape but now I rock the all orange. Stick around after the Hop game I'll try to find you hopefully after a big win in the Dome.

Dan M

This is a question for Stephen How did your core become so strong? Do you have and workout tips for those of us who are struggling with weak cores? I feel it is essential to the success of a lacrosse player

Stephen Keogh

  (1:05 PM)

Well, Hal Luther our strength coach starts off each workout with a difficult sit up routine. I believe that this has helped me in building a strong core. The tips I could give to you would be to set up a daily routine and a goal that you want to achieve with building your core. Every night you could do sit ups to help build your core because having a strong core is important as a lacrosse player.

real upstate

Hey John, do you ever get hassled for being from upstate? What about you steve...you're up up state

John Galloway

  (1:06 PM)

Haha I get it all the time. Those who criticize are usually the most jealous though. Those LI and Maryland players wish deep down they had roots like we do. (p.s we always win the upstate-downstate game here at 'Cuse).

Stephen Keogh

  (1:08 PM)

up up state Yeah, I get hassled all the time from the guys. They think its fun to make fun of the only Canadian on the team because of the way I talk. They always make fun of the way that I say out, and how I always say eh after everything. Most of the guys are just mad because they are jealous that upstate always wins in the upstate vs downstate scrimmage we have each year. Downstate is just jealous I don't want to be on their team so they hassle me the most. They may just be jealous because I am Canadian.

WoodyUK

Great game last weekend you played like a beast, now that Brooksy has gone who is the best shooter you face in practice?. I think the Galloway bounce when saving the ball is really going to become a favorite with the kids on the street, you will see kids Bouncing - Sweatpants on - Mud all over their faces (that?s pretty messed up) the G Bounce is back!

John Galloway

  (1:11 PM)

I think the best shooter would probably be Dan Hardy, but I hate staring down Spencer Van Schaak and Pat Perritt. If they don't score they are going to hit you..hard. I like the G-Bounce too, maybe I can patent that and make some money when I graduate.

Rituals

John- What do you do in preparation for upcoming seasons ex. What are some fall workouts? How do you get ready for some of the whistlers being fired at you for the spring?

John Galloway

  (1:13 PM)

Playing at West Genny over the off season helps me keep ready for the upcoming season. I see alot of shots from very talented players, and have the coaching around me that can prevent me from getting bad habits that are tough to avoid in the offseason. That all helps in getting prepared for guys like Seibald and Wharton and so on.

Reid Acton

Stephen, After winning the two most prestigious chamopionships in lacrosse in the same year, Do you ever think about packing it in while on top? your pal, Reid

Stephen Keogh

  (1:15 PM)

Well Reid, it was an amazing year last year to win both the National Championship and the Minto Cup in the same year, but my mind was never thinking about packing it all in. I still have love for the game of lacrosse and want to continue to play in the Major series up in Canada and also hopefully the NLL. It would be great to go out on top, but I feel like I could never pack it in at this time. I still have three more years at Syracuse and our goal for each year is the National Championship. My dream is still to play professional lacrosse and win a championship there so until that happens I don't think I will be able to pack it in.

Pete - NYC

John G - how good is Cody Jamieson?

John Galloway

  (1:16 PM)

Some people call him the laxbird of our generation....that good!

Steiny (NYC)

At what age did you first start playing lacrosse?

John Galloway

  (1:16 PM)

5 or 6...my big bro Joemo got me into it

Stephen Keogh

  (1:16 PM)

I began playing lacrosse around the age of 6.

Matt (Atlanta, GA)

Hey guys?Looking great so far this year Question is for both of you What do see as being the most critical piece to the puzzle to repeat as NCAA Champs this year? Also, we work with the youth here in Atlanta, GA and they LOVE Orange Lacrosse!

John Galloway

  (1:18 PM)

First off, tell the kids in Atlanta to keep working. The sport is spreading and someday will be among the top sports in the country. The most important part for this team in repeating is staying healthy and having fun. When we have our whole roster ready to play and we are playing with some excitement, we can be a tough team to stop come May. Plus, it wouldn't hurt if I could make more than 7 saves in the championship game...ouch!

Stephen Keogh

  (1:22 PM)

Matt, for me,I think that the most critical piece to the puzzle to repeat as champs this year is to stay focused on our goal of winning the championship again. We need to stay focused on and off the field and not let anything get in the way. We need to come out each practice and work hard, and not take any teams easy. We just need to take one game at a time and have fun on the field and work hard.

Border Patrol

John, the syracuse University roster lists you as being from Syracuse, however, I heard that you actually hail from the lacrosse-factory known to locals as ?Fairmount? is there any truth to this?

John Galloway

  (1:23 PM)

It's true. Fairmount has produced some of the countries top talent recently...Look no farther than Joe Pompo at Albany...kids a stud.

Josh, Norwalk CT

I hear that you work alot of camps in the summer. Do you think that goalies should attend as many camps as possible during that time or play in summer leagues. I like playing in summer leagues myself.

John Galloway

  (1:24 PM)

There are alot of good camps all across the country now. I worked in Colorado and Texas this past summer, and both were well run camps that helped alot of youth players. However, summerball is what makes this sport great. I recommend trying to do both without burning yourself out.

down state

john I think you are lying when you say upstate beats downstate, how was it losing to LI in empires in hs?

John Galloway

  (1:28 PM)

I don't lie. LI kids always find a way to make themselves believe they won. That game was a fluke. I'm extending a challenge to that empire team: a rematch. This time no lightning delays.

Bubba Bigsby

Stephen, I think that you are the kind of player who can use just about any head, and still do your thing. Have you ever thought about using an old-school setup, like say a Hi-Wall with a traditional pocket, just for kicks? Also, what are your plans for next year when they institute the new stick dimension regulations? I've got a bunch of unused old heads sitting around waiting to be dyed orange and strung up if you're interested.

Stephen Keogh

  (1:28 PM)

Well Bubba, I have never thought about going back to an old school set up stick. I've always used a X2 unpinched so I think that the new stick dimensions aren't going to give me any trouble for next year. I use an X3 and xcaliber now since the X2 is no longer available. I usually unpinch the heads to make them wider because I have used a wide head my whole life. If you got any x2's lying around I'd be happy to take them off your hands since I can't seem to find one anywhere anymore. I usually switch sticks each week and game so I think it'd be fun to snipe and dangle with an old school hi wall traditional pocket. Any stick to snipe on Galloway is always fun.

Francisco - Coimbra - Portugal

Hello guys, I'm from Portugal and I'm starting lacrosse here. My favourite college team is Syracuse and I would like to ask what kind of things you do before the game in the locker room in a way to prepare yourself?

John Galloway

  (1:30 PM)

I used to get really stressed out and worried before games, but now I like to relax and stay loose. I listen to oldies like Louie Armstrong or Tom Jones and stay confident. A loose and focused locker room is the best way to go. Good luck in Portugal, that is pretty amazing.

Matt (Syracuse)

Hey guys.. What do you think is worse: Playing 6 OT's in basketball or lacrosse?

John Galloway

  (1:32 PM)

I would have to say lacrosse, because it is sudden death. I know if I was in a 6ot game in goal my heart couldn't handle it.

Curly Jefferson

Keogh, what kind of things would you and Jamieson do together if he is cleared? That is, what could you to do together bringing in aspects of box?

Stephen Keogh

  (1:33 PM)

I think if coach ever put me and jammer together on the field, we would be a sportscenter top 10 waiting to happen. I've played against cody my entire box carrerr, hes a terrific player and I think when me and him would be put on the field, we would try some pretty crazy stuff. We try it in practices for now and it seems like none of the goalies can stop anything we throw at them. The box game has helped us with our sticks skills so I think you would see a lot of behind the backs, around the worlds, and between the leg shots for sure.

Adam, Providence RI

John, goalies usually have a great friend who is a defense man if so who was your go to man on defense now or in hs?

John Galloway

  (1:35 PM)

My buddy Chris Aubertine was my "man" in high school, but after he decided to go to the Navy he kind of got a little "different" on me. But now I would say Sid Smith takes that role.

Garrett Ryan

JG - we are hometown friends, when can I get a real autographed ball from the West Genesee/ soon to be Syracuse legend?

John Galloway

  (1:38 PM)

Baggs I miss you brother!..Next time we go get a slice at Pacinos back in Camillus I will sign your forehead.

Mike Phillips

Stephen - Did you or any of the offense feel some pressure to step up after losing Levielle and Brooks? Big shoes to fill. And is it possible Matt Abbott has a third lung???

Stephen Keogh

  (1:41 PM)

I think pressure was definately added to some of the players after loosing Levielle and Brooks. Both those guys were unbelievable players who put up big time numbers. Alot of players believe that they need to step up but I think with the depth that we have, everyone is going to have a part in the scoring this year. We have so many guys who can go to the cage, its not just going to be one player, but any game it could be someone different putting the ball in the net for us and stepping up huge for us. As for Matt Abbott, the kid is a beast, I would not be surprised if he has a third lung, even though in practice I always catch him on clears no problem.

Bill

john, do you think you would have beaten west islip had jovan not transfered to cba?

John Galloway

  (1:42 PM)

Well now that I have moved on from those mourning days and with my life...I'd have to say...we would have absolutely won! Haha but I'm friends with those Islip kids now and deep down they know the truth too.

Jon Brand

  (1:43 PM)

Ok, that's all the time we have for today. Remember, we'll be here every Friday at 1 p.m. Head to InsideLacrosse.com this weekend to catch up on all the action!