Lacrosse legend Gary Gait can still shoot the ball. Just ask Siena goaltender Brent Herbst.
Herbst had the unenviable task of trying to stop Gait’s shots during Sunday’s MVP Healthcare youth lacrosse clinic at Siena. Herbst, who is nearly half of Gait’s age (42), stopped the long distance shots, but he had a hard time handling Gait’s arsenal of close-range shots.
It was fun playing against Gary, said Herbst, who was one of the top goaltenders in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this past season. `His spin moves are nearly impossible to stop.`
Gait said he enjoys showing off the moves that helped him become one of the most prolific goal scorers in lacrosse history to an audience made up of the next generation of lacrosse players.
`I teach the kids everything from the basics to trick shots,` said Gait, who currently coaches the Syracuse University women’s lacrosse team. `I think the trick shots help when boredom sets in with the basics.`
More than 280 young lacrosse players from the Capital District participated in Gait’s clinic at Siena.
`It was awesome. MVP Healthcare did a great job getting the word out,` said Gait.
Several collegiate players helped Gait at the clinic including Bethlehem Central High School alumni Tee Ladouceur and Cate Quinlan.
`It was a blast seeing the little kids who will be our future,` said Ladouceur, who plays on Gait’s Syracuse women’s team.
`It’s pretty awesome just how well he works with the younger players,` said Quinlan, who plays at Siena.
There was a high level of interest in the inaugural MVP clinic prior to the free event. More than 340 players signed up for it ` some from as far away as Bennington, Ver.
`You can see how much lacrosse has been picking up in this area. You’d have never seen this when I was growing up,` said Quinlan, who graduated from Bethlehem in 2006.
`[The sports is] continuing to grow, and that’s impressive in this economy,` said Gait. `Youth and high school programs are being added all the time.`
Gait said that the sport’s growth is due to its inclusive nature.
`Athletes of all types can play lacrosse because of the [lacrosse] stick,` said Gait. `The stick allows you to be a good player if you work at it.`
That theme was carried throughout Gait’s clinic. Besides showing the players his arsenal of trick shots, he showed them how to effectively scoop up ground balls simply by twirling the stick in such a way as to get just a little space between the ball and the turf. He also demonstrated ways to maintain possession of the ball.
`I teach a little technique along the way but the kids learn a lot just from observing,` said Gait.“