Take Me Back: Zach Goodrich, an Eastern Shore Icon

This article appears in the July/August edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Join our momentum.

“Take Me Back” connects today’s lacrosse stars with the next generation of players from their hometowns.

This month, JD Berry, 12-year-old midfielder with the 2029 Annapolis Hawks and a sixth-grader at Stevensville (Md.) Middle School, interviews U.S. Sixes and senior team defensive midfielder Zach Goodrich — a local legend who brought two state championships home to Kent Island.

Want to interview a hometown hero? Email freeplay@usalacrosse.com to become one of our kid reporters.

Zach: JD, hit me with the hard questions first.

JD: Well, I don’t know if I have any hard questions, but here’s one. Out of all the teams you played for, which was your favorite jersey?

Zach: Probably my senior year at Towson. We had those porthole jerseys. We pulled them out for the Hopkins game, the first game of the season, when we went to throwbacks. And the PLL Cannons with the tighter fit. It’s nice.

JD: How old were you when you first started playing lacrosse?

Zach: I was probably about third grade when I started playing. My brother was a baseball player until about seventh grade, and then when he transitioned to lacrosse is when I picked up on it. And we went from there.

JD: What were your goals as an athlete when you were my age?

Zach: I played football and basketball. I know you play football and do some wrestling. I wrestled, too. But the goals were to get better each day, improving in all avenues of each sport. And also just having fun with it. When you play three different sports, it makes you appreciate those other ones when you’re not playing them. Taking each day, enjoying the time playing with your friends and teammates — it’s all supposed to be fun.

JD: What advice would you give a young lacrosse player in middle school or elementary school?

Zach: Always have your stick in your hand and try your best. Don’t get frustrated. There are times when things aren’t always going to go the best, so don’t get frustrated with yourself. Keep pushing forward, but also try to enjoy other stuff outside of lacrosse. A big thing for me was playing those other sports, and it makes you appreciate lacrosse a little more. If you get the opportunity to try other things, that’s a huge part of the growing process.

JD: What was your favorite sport you played outside of lacrosse and why?

Zach: Football. It’s hard to beat a Friday Night Lights game in high school. The team culture and becoming a brotherhood with the teammates you have for football, there’s nothing like it. What’s your favorite sport outside lacrosse?

JD: Probably football like you. I’m a defensive end and running back. What position did you play when you started lacrosse?

Zach: I’ve always been a midfielder, but I did a lot of faceoffs, especially with the help of Justin Berry [JD’s father]. Over the years, I got pretty good with the faceoff game. I transitioned into more of a defensive role when I got into college.

JD: What made you choose Towson?

Zach: The conversations I had with Coach [Shawn] Nadelen, it kind of felt like home. It was a good opportunity for me. Also having that Towson influence from your father and then also Coach Lindsay Dixon, that made the decision a little bit easier.

JD: Who was your lacrosse idol growing up?

Zach: There was a d-middie named Josh Hawkins, who was a great Loyola defensive middie. But you can go back to Paul Rabil in his prime at Hopkins. He had a lot of influence on players my age.

JD: What is your favorite hobby outside of lacrosse?

Zach: Fishing. That’s what keeps me sane throughout the year with coaching and playing lacrosse, being able to get out on the boat and fish.

JD: What was it like to win the state championship for Kent Island?

Zach: It was awesome to bring a state title to Kent Island doing it with the guys I grew up with. That was the most important thing — seeing it come full circle. You’re in sixth grade, right? What middle school do you go to?

JD: Stevensville Middle.

Zach: There we go! My old stomping grounds.