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Crease Coach™

Crease CoachBuilt By Goalies.Designed For Goalies.

Elite lacrosse goalie training in San Diego and Orange County. Pro-level coaching, high-rep sessions, and real development for goalies of any age and skill level.

Led by Nick WashutaPLL Goalie, Utah ArchersBack-to-Back PLL Champion

Crease Coach goalie training session

Goalie Training.Nothing Else.

Crease Coach is goalie-specific lacrosse training. No field player drills adapted for the cage. Every session is built around what goalies actually need: more reps, better mechanics, sharper footwork, and real confidence between the pipes.

From a goalie's first season to elite high school play, there is a clear path here.

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Crease Coach lacrosse goalie training

Upcoming Sessions

Sessions are capped, so spots are limited.

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Opens Soon$100

Shooters vs. Stoppers with Edge Academy

Sat, Oct 24 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM PDTMater Dei High SchoolBoys & Girls , All LevelsCoach Nick + Ane + Joey
Registration opens soon
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More Dates Are On The Way

New sessions are added through the season. Join the list and get first access when dates drop.

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Coached By Goalies Who Know The Position

Nick Washuta, Crease Coach staff

Nick Washuta

Crease Coach Owner • PLL Goalie, Utah Archers #18

Nick Washuta is a professional lacrosse goalie in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), a two-time PLL Champion, and the owner and director of Crease Coach. With more than a decade of experience competing at the highest levels of lacrosse, Nick brings a unique combination of professional playing experience, collegiate accomplishments, and a passion for developing the next generation of goaltenders.

Nick began his collegiate career at the University of Vermont, where he was a four-year starting goalie from 2016 to 2020 and established himself as one of the top goaltenders in NCAA Division I lacrosse. In 2018, he led the nation in save percentage and set Vermont's single-season record for wins by a goalie. Throughout his collegiate career, Nick earned All-American recognition, was named the 2019 Vermont Team MVP, and served as team captain in 2020. His leadership, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure helped elevate the Vermont lacrosse program during his four seasons.

Following his collegiate career, Nick was selected 11th overall in the 2020 Major League Lacrosse Draft by the Denver Outlaws. He began his professional career with Denver before joining the Utah Archers in the Premier Lacrosse League in 2021. Wearing #18, Nick has been part of two PLL championship teams, winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024. Competing alongside and against some of the world's best players, he has developed a deep understanding of the technical, physical, and mental demands of elite goaltending.

Beyond his professional career, Nick has dedicated himself to coaching and mentoring young athletes throughout Southern California. As a goalie coach at Torrey Pines High School and the owner of Crease Coach, he works with goalies of all ages and skill levels, from beginners learning the fundamentals to elite high school athletes preparing for collegiate competition. Throughout his coaching career, Nick has helped numerous boys and girls goalies advance to college lacrosse programs, including NCAA Division I institutions.

Nick's coaching philosophy centers on developing complete goaltenders through strong fundamentals, efficient footwork, precise positioning, quick decision-making, and mental resilience. His training incorporates individualized instruction, high-repetition drills, and game-like scenarios designed to prepare athletes for the speed and intensity of live competition. He places particular emphasis on helping goalies understand the game, communicate effectively with their defenses, and develop the confidence to perform under pressure.

At Crease Coach, Nick's mission is to provide goalies with the same caliber of instruction, preparation, and mentorship that helped shape his own playing career. Whether an athlete is stepping into the cage for the first time or pursuing the opportunity to compete at the collegiate or professional level, Nick is committed to helping every goalie maximize their potential and achieve their goals.

Ane Horton, Crease Coach staff

Ane Horton

Women's Director • Former CSU Pueblo Goalie

Ane Horton is the Head Coach of Mater Dei Girls Lacrosse and a former NCAA Division II standout goalie at Colorado State University Pueblo, where she earned IWLCA All-Midwest Region honors and a place on the NCAA Division II all-time saves list. A three-time CIF Champion at Los Alamitos High School, Ane brings extensive collegiate coaching experience and has trained goalies at every level, from youth athletes to Division I players and current World Lacrosse competitors.

Joey Heckel, Crease Coach staff

Joey Heckel

Goalie Coach • Former CUI Goalie

Joey Heckel is a former NCAA Division II standout goalie and current Graduate Assistant Coach at Concordia University Irvine, having started three seasons at Anderson University and earned All-SAC honors in 2022. With coaching experience through the HEADstrong Foundation and international lacrosse development initiatives in Peru, Joey brings collegiate-level expertise and a passion for developing the next generation of goalies to Crease Coach.

Andrew Cook, Crease Coach staff

Andrew Cook

Goalie Coach • Current Dartmouth Goalie, Instagram @cookie_strings

Andrew Cook is a Division I goalie at Dartmouth College and former Johns Hopkins player who led Torrey Pines to four consecutive CIF championships, earning three CIF Finals MVP awards and 2024 USA Lacrosse West Player of the Year honors. A two-time All-American with 601 career high school saves, Andrew brings elite collegiate experience and a passion for developing the next generation of goalies to Crease Coach.

Goalie working on positioning during Crease Coach training

Goalies Need Goalie Training

A goalie standing in a cage at a shooting clinic is not goalie development. Crease Coach sessions are built for the position from the first rep to the last.

High-Rep Sessions

Built for volume: quality shots from the first rep to the last, not standing in line.

Position-Specific Coaching

Mechanics, arc movement, tracking, clearing, and communication. Coached by people who played the position.

A Clear Path

Training that meets your goalie where they are and shows them exactly what comes next.

Crease Coach Goalies Play At The Next Level

  • DartmouthSam Cooper '22
  • Johns HopkinsAndrew Cook '23
  • UtahJoey Garcia '21
  • AmherstMitch Likins '21
  • SwarthmoreDrew Tyson '22
  • JacksonvilleBrooklyn Hodgdin '22
  • UMBCIsaac Hanson '23
  • WhittierRyan Rosseli '22
  • ConcordiaRyan Ritchters '20, Daniel Yang '21
  • OberlinJake Pillsbury '22
  • EasternBen Connolly '21
  • WestminsterMason Fray '24
  • DenisonHannah Magarian '15
  • ElonAubrie Avilla '22
  • Illinois Institute of TechnologyZane Handy '19
  • Southern VirginiaJack Nixon '24
  • MonmouthCody Lavin '23

What Parents And Players Say

Crease Coach training sessions have helped improve my skills tremendously. In a typical session, we go over pretty much everything about the goalie position. From stick work and foot work all the way to the mental side. Washuta covers it all. What really makes this coaching so special is the level of lacrosse knowledge, IQ, and experience. He has given me countless tips that I have used and implemented into my game.

Andrew Cook, Dartmouth, San Diego

Nick Washuta has coached our goalie for 4 years. In that time, he has helped her grow into a more confident player with amazing game IQ. He takes the time to learn about each player he coaches and plays to their strengths, recognizing that each goalie is different. He answers all of her questions and works with her to be the best goalie she can be. She's done large group, small group and individual sessions and she always walks away having learned something new in addition to getting the reps she needs. I highly recommend each of his programs — if you want your goalie to be training with the best, train with Nick!

Mags L., Middle School, San Diego

Every Crease Coach event I've attended has been amazing. Always an electric environment coupled with some of the best goalie coaching you will find in the country. If you get the opportunity to attend a Crease Coach event whether it is a training day or combine or anything else I wouldn't hesitate to jump at it.

Cody L., Monmouth University

When it comes to goalie training in lacrosse, Coach Washuta is the gold standard. Working with a D1, PLL keeper is an instant game changer for any goalie. In his sessions, Washuta trains every aspect of the game: form, reaction time, lacrosse IQ, clearing, communication, and mental grit. What sets him apart, however, isn't just his insanely fast lefty shot; it is his personal care for every one of his players. He would frequently tell me how he'd crafted drills specifically for an issue I'd been having, whether it was using a weighted stick to speed up my reaction time on low shots on the crease or incorporating my team's specific clear after I'd make a save. Even with other goalies around, every session felt tailored to what I needed to improve, and Washuta's investment in my development was pivotal in improving my on-the-field confidence while playing for a top high school program. His commitment to the sport is evident in every drill he creates, every minute he spends reviewing film, every shot he takes, and everything he remembers about you to help you grow. Whether you're just starting out or starting on the varsity level, there's always something to learn from Coach Washuta — I can honestly say I wouldn't be the goalie I am today without his coaching.

Henri T., Torrey Pines '26, San Diego

Training Across Southern California

Santa AnaRancho Santa FePoint LomaScripps RanchDel Mar

New locations are coming. Do not see your area? Ask about private lessons.

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