Havre de Grace goalie Grant Steelman gambled on a play in the closing minutes of last week's game with Joppatowne.
Steelman stopped a close shot, and the ball skidded and bounced toward the left corner. Two Joppatowne players took off after it, but so did Steelman. The 6-foot-1, 270-pound, left-handed goalie caught up, split the pair of Mariners, reached out with his stick and nearly beat them to the ball before it rolled out of bounds.
He wasn't afraid to take a chance, and that shows how Steelman has changed since last year.
As a starting freshman last season, Steelman dazzled many teams and helped Havre de Grace shake up the area lacrosse community by winning 10 games and making the regional final for the first time in school history. This season, Steelman has grown into a more aggressive goalie and leader.
"I felt more confident [this spring]," Steelman said. "I felt stronger as a player. I felt stronger as a leader for my defense. I felt stronger in everything."
The Warriors had never won a postseason game before last season much less gotten to the regional final, but Steelman, a second-team All-County pick, wasn't content.
He wants more this season and has spent several months working to get it. Steelman, who also plays right tackle on the school's football team, still dropped 30 pounds, and played in summer tournaments and two winter leagues to get ready for lacrosse season.
So far, so good.
Steelman gave up only five goals, as the Warriors split their first two games. He made 17 saves in a 4-3 loss to Joppatowne, frustrating the Mariners with several saves on point-blank shots to keep the Warriors close throughout.
That performance came after Steelman made 13 saves in a season-opening 12-1 victory over Newark (Del.) several days earlier.
The more aggressive nature of his play is not lost on his teammates and coaches.
Steelman has grown into more of a quarterback on the field. He was quiet last year, but now constantly barks out instructions to his defense, and does it in a voice that easily can be heard over the loud trains that run past the scoreboard end of the Havre de Grace field.
"We've thrown a lot at him this year, but we've done it because we know he can handle it," Havre de Grace coach Jason Alford said. "We've pushed him hard this year, especially with directing the defense, calling the slides, communicating. Last year was overwhelming enough for him as a freshman."
