Nothing launches you into the spotlight like ripping twine, but it’s what you do with that spotlight that we’re focused on. That post-goal feeling is a thing of beauty, and how you and your team celebrate can really elevate your style and reputation. While lacrosse is a game of class and tradition, celebrations add a spark of light-heartedness and fun that we believe belong in this sport that we all love so much. We’ve found what we believe to be the top 10 goal cellys of all time, and here’s what we’ve got for you.
10. Joel Tinney’s Ray Lewis
Joel Tinney executed a perfect fake-flip against Loyola in 2017 to lead Hopkins to an OT game-winner. After scoring, Tinney called back to an all-time sports icon Ray Lewis with his unleash and kick through, before pointing to the crowd and showing them who was the best on the field that day. Boss move.
9. Will Perry’s “Stick Flip” after OT game-winner
This isn’t the flashiest of cellys, but it goes hard. As much as we think baseball sucks, the bat-flip is one of the best things in sports to show your opponent your dominance, and Will Perry adopted this with his epic stick-flip after his OT game winner against Lehigh in 2018, where he launched his stick about 20 feet in the air before celebrating with his squad.
8. Alex Trippi’s Best Terrell Owens Impression
Though an inconsequential All-American game, this choreographed celebration was awesome. Alex Trippi netted an early one in the 1st quarter for the South team, and proceeded to sign the ball with a sharpie and hand it to the goalie. This celly is a callback to one of the NFL’s most controversial players in Terrell Owens, who pulled a sharpie from his sock and signed the football after a touchdown. Cold-blooded.
7. Dan Muller’s Water Slide
It was a rainy day in UMass v Hofstra back in 2019. As time expired while knotted 12-12 in the 4th quarter, Dan Muller ripped a hail mary from almost midfield that somehow found its way to the back of the net. Muller then proceeded to throw his stick, rip off his helmet and gloves, and water slide down the side of the field before his team piled on top of him. This was true beauty.
6. Myles Jones does Key & Peele
Jones broke out one of pop-cultures favorite skits from Key & Peele where the football player hip thrusts and gets a flag for excessive celebration. A true classic that will always land, and Jones nailed it.
5. Kyle Marr’s Signature
Kyle Marr was a force, and his signature celly was something for the books. Breaking this bad boy out after scoring 5 in the 4th in a comeback against Georgetown in 2018 to win 10-9 was just the icing on the cake. He drops to a knee and gives a few low fist pumps, and it is a 10/10 fresh. Many players have replicated this since, and we are glad this originated in lacrosse.
4. Pat Kavanagh Shoots the Duck
Pat Kavanagh went skeet shooting after pulling out a game winner for the Irish in triple OT against the title defending Maryland squad. After planting the final goal, Kavanagh ran towards the sideline while taking his glove off, launched the glove in the air and used his stick to shoot it down. An absolute sniper. A fitting celly for an awesome moment in the 2023 season.
3. Ryder Garnsey’s “Dead Fish” after OT game-winner
In a huge victory over #12 Virginia, Ryder Garnsey planted an OT game-winner while getting dragged to the ground to will #2 ranked ND to a dub in 2017. He followed this up with a “dead fish” celly; a true classic born on the soccer field and seen in the likes of the popular FIFA video game, and even performed by Daniil Medvedev after winning the U.S. Open Tennis Championship in 2021. This will always be an all-time celebration, and Garnsey executed it perfectly to create another iconic moment in lax history.
2. Matt Gibson High Fives the Ref
This was just hilarious. In 2011, after teammate Matt Miller scored for Yale, Matt Gibson ran over and high-fived the referee while he was signaling that the goal was good. Perfect execution for an incredibly funny moment that will live on forever in the lacrosse community. Chef’s kiss.
1. The entire Nazareth Lacrosse Team in 2016
No one man stood a chance at beating out this Naz squad. I mean this team is an electric factory. There isn’t one specific celebration we could call out because we love them all, and each one is better than any single celebration any other single player has done. From jousting, to bench pressing, to dunking, they’ve done it all. This is the stuff we love to see. You’re going to want to see this team in action, we highly recommend this video.
