Between the Pipes

Goalies: the last line of defense. These proud men stare down the most aggressive forwards in hockey, soccer and lacrosse, keeping their composure through even the worst of shoot-outs. Three proud De Smet Jesuit seniors, Ben Yeager, Connor Walsh, and Patrick Barret, are at the heart of their teams. Senior Ben Yeager stands proudly as the starting goalie. Defending the varsity soccer goal since his freshmen year, Yeager maintains a proud average of less than 1.25 goals per game and has six wins attributed to him. His hard effort has been essential toward ensuring his team’s success.

“To me being a goalkeeper is coming up big when you are needed,” Yeager said. “There are not very many shots during the game, like hockey, but when shots come my way, I need to cover a lot of area to keep it from going in the net.  The stress about being a goalkeeper in any sport is that one mistake on your part can cost your team the game.”

This immense pressure doesn’t even faze Yeager; having stood by DeSmet’s Varisty Soccer team since 2011, his confidence has only grown. It’s easy to see how such an athlete will be guarding Saint Louis University’s goal next year.

Next in line stands Connor Walsh. Goaltending since his first lace-up, Walsh was raised to defend the goal.

“My dad was a goalie, so as a kid I wanted to do the same,” Walsh said.

A fan favorite for his humorous antics and infectiously upbeat attitude, Walsh keeps the hockey team optimistic in the worst of games. However, this almost “care-free” attitude is hardly indicative of his ability in the goal. A veteran with three years of experience, Walsh’s experience and seriousness in the face of adversity maintain a composure invaluable to the team.

“Being a goalie, there is always a lot of pressure on you. If you make a mistake, it is much more obvious and most of the time more devastating than another player making a mistake,” Walsh said.

 Even during the worst of circumstances, Walsh never fails to bring his best, leading his team in spirit as well as ability.

Last but certainly not least is De Smet Lacrosse’s Patrick Barret. A stand in goalie for his own freshmen team, Barret quickly became an invaluable asset to the line-up.

“Pat is known for being team player who will sacrifice for the betterment of the team,” defenseman Spencer Howard said.

 Now the lead goalie for Varsity, Barret stands strong against shot after shot with little protection.

“My teammates think I am crazy and remind me every day,” Barrett said.

 In addition to his fearlessness, many have come to know him for his specific pre-game ritual where he stares into his net for five seconds before tapping both posts twice. Outlandish to some, few dare to question Barret because of his success.