LGR 280: Poise Over Perfection with Stevenson goalie Tyler Merchant

Stevenson University goalie Tyler Merchant joins the show to share how an eighth-grade “I’ll hop in” moment turned into a college career. 

We dig into the perfectionist/overthinker paradox, learning poise by studying goalies like Logan McNaney, and practical reset routines (yes, even the blink-and-wipe “hard drive” trick). Tyler walks through his Florida-to-boarding-school journey, a reclass year, committing to Catholic, transferring to Stevenson, and what D3 vs. D1 really feels like from the crease. 

We also hit leadership when your team turns over captains, staying locked in during quiet stretches, drills for feet and balance (walk your arc, tennis-ball footwork), stick talk (Eclipse III + ghost pocket), stringing heads, and using ADHD as a superpower for film and reps. He closes with advice to enjoy the grind—because you only get these four years once.

You’ll hear about:

• The ego check of first stepping in net—and why Tyler stuck with it
• Using perfectionism to fuel practice without choking performance
• Composure cues after goals and during momentum swings
• Recruiting, reclassing, and the transfer portal—what he’d tell HS goalies
• D3 competition level, depth, and the Mustang Classic thriller vs. St. Lawrence
• Footwork/balance drills, arc positioning from X, and communication habits
• ADHD, focus hacks, and building a repeatable game-day routine

Final takeaway: Enjoy it. Treat it like a job you love—and you’ll keep coming back better.