Despite recent turnover in the cage, freshman Garrett Egnaczyk will remain Stevenson's starting goalkeeper for the remainder of the team's postseason run, so long as he's healthy.
Senior Connor Skeen had started the two previous games for the No. 10 Mustangs (14-4), but when the team shellacked Albright, 21-4, in Wednesday night's Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MACC) tournament semifinal, Egnaczyk was the goalie who opened that contest.
Coach Paul Cantabene said Eganczyk will start against Messiah (11-6) in Saturday's MACC title game at Mustang Stadium in Owings Mills at 7 p.m.
"He's just been a little banged up," Cantabene said Thursday of Egnaczyk. "He got an injury, so he wasn't playing at his best. So our goal was to get him healthy for the playoffs, which is what we did. We got him healthy, and he's playing at 100 percent now without any residual effects from his injury. It was good to see him play really well last night, and he did a great job. Connor did a great job of going in there and playing his minutes, but in the end, we feel Garrett gives us a little better chance to win games."
Cantabene said Egnaczyk suffered an unspecified injury during practice leading to the team's 11-6 victory over the Falcons on April 20. Egnaczyk made one save and gave up two goals in 5 minutes, 41 seconds, but was forced to give way to Skeen, who posted nine stops and allowed four goals in the remaining 54:19.
Skeen, a Towson resident and graduate, started the next two games for Stevenson, earning wins against Lebanon Valley and Widener. Cantabene said Skeen, who has recorded an 8.13 goals-against average and a .538 save percentage this spring, gives the team a reliable backup.
"We know we're not going to be hesitant if Garrett's not on his game because Connor can come off the bench and played really well," Cantabene said. "He's shown he can do that."
Still, Egnaczyk is 8-0 as the Mustangs' netminder, compiling a 7.11 goals-against average and a .531 save percentage. Cantabene said Egnaczyk's athleticism gives him the edge.
"He's a little more capable of the big save," Cantabene said. "I think he's done a great job of making those big saves. When he makes those kinds of saves, I think he really gives the guys that extra excitement. But it's really close between the two. Connor's done a great job when he's in there and has made some big saves for us. So we're really splitting hairs here, but at this time, we just think Garrett gives us a little bit more of an edge."