The Vancouver Warriors are picking up this season right where they left off in the second half of last year. Vancouver’s come out the gate swinging, starting out 3-1. It’s been impressive to see the strides the team has made since the beginning of last year.
It isn’t just one player carrying the bulk of the work either. The Warriors are playing as a complete team on both ends of the ball. They are getting timely saves and big goals when they need it. In lacrosse, your success as a team is usually based off how good your goalie is. Luckily for Vancouver, it has a great one in Aden Walsh.
Going into the game vs the San Diego Seals, Walsh had won eight of his last 11 games dating back to last season when he took over the starting job. Walsh is now second in the NLL in goals against average and is tied for second in wins. His teammates know they have a great netminder as well. Following a 11-9 win over the Seals, forward Keegan Bal had high praise for his 23-year-old goalkeeper.
“He’s playing amazing, he’s shutting the door when we really need him. (I) can’t speak highly enough of how he’s playing.”
Bal also touched on the confidence Walsh brings to the team. “He’s making very timely saves. He just brings a confident energy to him and he’s a fighter. He’s not scared of the moment, (and) he’s not scared of any shooter – he’s willing to take anyone on one-on-one”.
Walsh is in his third year with the team and has improved in every game he’s played. His first career win came against the back-to-back NLL champion Buffalo Bandits and Walsh hasn’t looked back since. Following Friday’s win, Walsh brushed aside any notion of pressure despite how young he is.
“No, each game comes with more experience and you get more comfortable out there so it’s definitely easier as each game goes on, (I’m) definitely feeling more confident each game.”
San Diego, you've yee'd your last haw
pic.twitter.com/JnVTRQgPFD
— Vancouver Warriors (@VanWarriors) January 11, 2025
Vancouver has only made the playoffs once in franchise history and that’s something destined to change this year. The Warriors have built a very solid core up front with Bal, Adam Charalambides, and Ryan Martel. They also have one of the league’s top defence corps, headlined by captain Brett Mydske and Ryan Dilks.
Warriors head coach and general manager Curt Malawsky knows how important having good goaltending is in the NLL.
“You can have all the defence you want and if the (goalies) are letting in shots from 50 feet or squeakers, you’re not going to be successful, but our guys (Walsh) is making the saves he needs and then some.”
Walsh is the backbone of this current Warriors squad and it’s going to need him to continue that the rest of the season. He’s currently on pace to break the Warriors single season record for saves. The individual accolades are nice but there’s no doubt he’s hoping to the end the season with an NLL championship.