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Senior Charlie Beasley has amassed over 400 career saves across three seasons in goal for Westhampton Beach. RON ESPOSITO
Charlie Beasley always rises to the occasion, and during a 9-8 loss to Smithtown West April 17 was no exception.
The difference this time, is the Westhampton Beach lacrosse team goalkeeper’s efforts, which included 24 stops on the day, led the senior to surpass 400 for his varsity career.
“I don’t think I knew exactly what milestones I would hit in my career, but I knew that if I played confidently I could record some great numbers,” Beasley said. “It feels great to surmount 400 saves on my career. I think all of the hard work I’ve put in has definitely helped me get to this point.”
It’s something the three-year starter’s teammates said they’ve seen in their goalie all along.
“He treats every practice or training session like it’s the real thing, and that really helps him during games,” senior midfielder and attack Finn Drake said. “Seeing one of your teammates, especially one you have been playing with for so long, achieve such an amazing goal is special.”
Beasley said he thought the milestone might be possible when he recorded just shy of 200 saves his sophomore season.
“Certainly, after my junior year, and going into my senior season, it made me realize how much I had accomplished and what I could be capable of this year,” he said. “Going into a competitive game against Smithtown West, I was confident I’d be able to reach this marker.”
Beasley needed 10 saves going into the contest, and more than doubled it. He said regardless of knowing how many he needed, his focus remained on the game at hand.
“My mindset was the same as every game,” the senior said. “I knew that if I just played my game, the saves would come just as easily as any game.”
Prior to any matchup, Beasley said he spends much of his time getting focused while stretching and doing different breathing exercises.
“I’ve been doing that since I was a kid to help me focus,” Beasley said. “Doing this before every game helps me prepare for what’s ahead by blocking out distractions and making sure I’m ready to play. My communication also helps me to focus during the game. Always yelling out to my defenders, calling where the ball is and relaying anything that I see helps me not get distracted.”
Sophomore long stick midfielder Jake Calloway said the focus is always apparent.
“He communicates very well — helping the defense play as one unit,” he said. “He also makes saves that goalies shouldn’t get, and makes tons of acrobatic plays. It makes him a great goalie. With Charlie being in goal, it allows our defense to play aggressively — having no doubt that he will bail us out whenever it is needed.”
Calloway said stop after stop against Smithtown West gave the Hurricanes the boost they needed to stay in it.
“Everyone fed of off the energy,” he said. “It was crazy.”
Beasley said close games against Smithtown West over the last few years also provided a little extra motivation to push toward victory.
“Our matchups against Smithtown West over my past three years have come down to one or two goals, with us winning one of those years,” he said. “Going into my third and final meeting with them definitely added some excitement. It’s always a high energy game against Smithtown West, and I think I fed off that energy well, which helped me make a ton of stops.”
Drake said he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
“Charlie played out of him mind,” the senior said. “He really stood on his head and kept us in the game. It makes me so much more confident going into a game knowing how good of a goalie Charlie is. It can really get the team going and shift the momentum of a game. If Charlie makes a big save, it leads to success at the other end and gets the team fired up.”
Beasley said the opportunity to play the position as long as he has means everything to him.
“I love this team, and being able to represent my school and peers is such an honor,” Beasley said. “Looking back on my first years playing and trying to prove myself to the other guys to now as a veteran starter and captain makes me realize how much I love this sport and team and what an honor it is to put on the Hurricanes jersey this and every season.”
