In the history of reasons given by athletes as to why they become goaltenders, Maddie Lipman probably provided the most honest answer ever.
“I really didn’t like running,” she said.
“So,” she continued, “when they asked who wanted to try something different, I said sure.”
Ironically, the Nottingham High junior has run up some massive numbers in the Northstars goal.
This past season, she joined crosstown goalie Ava Frascella of Hamilton West as her school’s all-time leader in field hockey saves.
And it only took three years!
“It’s a really cool accomplishment.” Lipman said. “I was a goalie since I was in fourth grade, so it means a lot to me to be able to do that after many years of playing.”
It’s going to be a mark that will be tough to break for future goalies, as she has another season to add on. Her achievement is a combination of talent and, more importantly, a desire to improve.
Unlike field players, who can go out and stickhandle by themselves, a goalie needs someone to shoot at her. Not to be denied, Lipman kicks a ball against a wall and then tries to make saves on the rebound.
“Maddie’s number one attribute is her dedication and hard work,” coach Jessie Davy said. “She works on all aspects of her game. She does conditioning, agility drills, reaction time drills, and she is always studying the position of goalie.
“Maddie is a sponge for information. She has great field vision and ability to watch ball placement on the field; she knows how to adjust her position to work with her defense and defend the goal against any offense.”
Lipman played softball and basketball when she was younger. Her mom, Jodi, played field hockey for Steinert, and recommended Maddie try the sport.
“After the first game I realized that I really liked it,” she said. “It was different from all the other positions. I was getting hit with a really hard ball and at first it was scary. But once I realized it can’t hurt you because of all the padding, I felt more comfortable with it.”
Lipman started with Blue Star in Bordentown and switched to the high-level Princeton Field Hockey Club last year.
“At Blue Star I learned the basics, how to shuffle, how to dive, how to go to block a ball, aerial saves,” Lipman said. “For Princeton it’s more high level skills — sliding into someone with slide tackling, diving from post to post.”
Whatever “the sponge” soaks in, she puts to good use. Upon arriving at Nottingham Lipman made an immediate impression on Davy, who had just been promoted from assistant to head coach.
“The first time I saw Maddie play in goal, I was so impressed at how, as an athlete, she was in total contradiction to her personality,” Davy said. “Maddie is aggressive and determined defending her goal. I knew that this shy, humble and meek young lady was going to grow into an amazing goalie and team leader.”
By the time she entered high school, Lipman was already toughened up thanks to big brother Aiden, a former Northstar baseball player who graduated last year.
“We used to roughhouse a lot,” she said.
Lipman wasted little time showing her mettle, making 277 saves as a 9th-grader. She was not surprised at starting right away.
“I wanted to make varsity and be the starting goalie,” she said. “I thought that would be really cool for a freshman.”
The following season, she kicked out 477 shots to break Amanda Muziani’s 2013 record of 435 saves.
“To me it was a really big deal,” she said. “Especially with it only being my sophomore year.”
This past season she became the first Northstar in history to surpass 1,000 saves and broke Muziani’s mark of 933. Her 262 saves gave her a career mark of 1,016.
This spring she will be back in goal for Nottingham’s lacrosse team, but field hockey remains a priority.
“I pretty much play all year round,” Lipman said. “After lacrosse I go home for an hour then go straight to field hockey. I definitely put in a lot of work to get where I am.”
She feels playing goalie in both sports helps with hand-eye coordination, but in lacrosse it’s about using your arms to make saves while in field hockey it’s more about the legs and feet repelling shots.
In both sports, however, the general premise is the same.
“You need to be able to react quick enough because you don’t know where the shot is going at first,” Lipman said. “You need to be able to get everywhere at the same time. You need to be able to watch your post and help your defenders marking people who are in the circle.”
That last point is paramount to a goalie in any sport. Directing a defense to do the right things always makes things easier for the girl in the mask.
“It was definitely scary at first, being a freshman telling seniors where to go,” Lipman said. “But I got used to it by the end of the season. I wasn’t really telling them what to do, I was just trying to help them.”
Davy could not be happier with how she directs traffic.
“Maddie is the voice of our defense!” the coach exclaimed. “Our defense is set to hear and follow her directives, as she has full field vision. She’s excellent at communicating with her teammates, she is kind, gentle yet direct. Maddie is always lifting up her team and encouraging them despite the outcome of a play, corner penalty or game.”
As a young goalie, it was Lipman who sometimes needed encouragement. With seemingly non-stop shots screaming in at her, she was bound to give up some goals.
Initially, it got to her. But Lipman said a number of heart to heart talks with Davy helped her understand that goals are not always her fault, and that it’s important to put it behind and focus on the next shot.
“Maddie used to hang her head as a young goalie and would mentally have negative talk,” the coach recalled. “Now Maddie takes the moment for the ball to reach the 50 yard line (after a goal) and reset. I think it is our small conversations throughout the game that allows her to process the goals and reset for the next quarter. “
It was advice the goalie took to heart.
“She has shown so much growth in mindset since her freshman year,” Davy said. “As her head coach we have spent countless hours since her freshman year working on her mindset, expression of the emotions, recognizing she is a member of a full team. I am always honest with her about her game play. This past off-season Maddie also did personal growth on her mindset while at a goalie camp.”
Lipman hopes to play field hockey in college and has already begun sending tape out to several programs.
But the beauty of the University Heights resident is that sports are only part of her contributions to Nottingham.
She has yet to get a B in high school and sports a 4.8 weighted grade point average while taking Advanced Placement courses. That puts her No. 1 in the junior class.
“I always try to do my best,” she said. “I’m a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to grades.”
When she’s not doing homework or practicing kick saves, Lipman contributes to the Yearbook Committee, Peer Leadership, Student Government and the Health Occupation Students of America Club. In HOSA she attends clinics and does labs in hopes of pursuing a career in the health profession.
“I want to help people,” she said.
She is doing just that in this year’s school play – Bee Hive: The 60s Musical. As a freshman she was in the ensemble and last year she had a speaking role in Little Shop of Horrors. This year, veteran play director Lauren Flaherty chose Lipman to be the student director.
In listening to the job description, it sounds a lot like her duties as a goalie.
“I’m like her helping hand,” Lipman said, “trying to get everyone together and stuff.”
For Flaherty, there was no question as to who would be her wing woman.
“I chose Maddie because she is a joy to be around,” said Nottingham’s version of Julie Taymor. “She gets along with everybody and is well-respected by staff and students alike. After teaching Maddie in Drama and working with her on two previous shows, my choice was a no-brainer. She is reliable and talented. She also operates with patience and understanding. I think the world of her.”
Not surprisingly, her sports “director” feels the same way.
“I cannot say enough positives about Maddie,” Davy said. “She shows pure respect for her teachers, staff, administration and her peers. Since her freshman year, Maddie has been a quiet leader on and off the field. This season she was voted as a team captain alongside two seniors.
“When Maddie is in her most comfortable environment, she is funny, outgoing and a joy to be with. She’s committed to having a positive impact on her peers, teammates and all those that she comes in contact with. The best way to describe Maddie is in two words — bashfully humble.”
And she never runs from a challenge.
Of course, that’s expected from someone who doesn’t like to run.