Young Guns: Class of 2029 Goalies to Know, Part II

As we finish up an early look at '27s worth keeping tabs on going forward, we're back with a second wave of noteworthy goalies (<a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/01/young-guns-class-of-2029-goalies-to-know/">coming on the heels of Part I</a>), heading down to Texas and Georgia in addition to the usual hotbeds of New Jersey and New York.    Chitwood added a significant achievement to his growing résumé with an All-Tournament performance at the NLF at IMG, the latest stop on a busy offseason schedule. At 5'5, he's relatively unassuming, but he's clearly well-coached and fundamentally sound, particularly in how he moves from pipe to pipe. He does an excellent job staying patient and disciplined before the shot, then attacking the ball. Chitwood's undersized status actually works to his advantage, as he absolutely gobbles up everything low—it's almost astounding how many of his saves come on shots below the knees, and how shooters keep going back. I'll be curious to track Chitwood's progress as he transitions to the varsity level after starting on JV as an eighth grader.     Big, fiery, and athletic, Colley moves exceptionally well out of the cage, possessing the elusiveness to outrun even the most ferocious rides. He plays with a wide, low stance before exploding upward on high shots, while dropping smoothly to his knees on low offerings. Colley also does an excellent job of making himself big in tight, making life difficult for shooters, and he's known for producing stellar double saves and stymying would-be goal-scorers in 1v1 situations. Overall, there's a lot to like, as he's as composed and dialed in as most upperclassmen. Heading into the spring, he'll sit behind one of the more underrated '27 goalies in Boston University commit Ben Watson—a situation that could help accelerate his development despite being stuck behind him for two years.     Another young goalie who saw JV action as an eighth grader, Grippo is a tall lefty who plays with poise well beyond his years. His decisiveness in the clearing game stands out; more often than not, he moves the ball up and out within three seconds and rarely forces anything that isn't there. In net, he's composed and disciplined, seldom biting on fakes while moving deftly from pipe to pipe. He does a strong job of staying square to the ball and excels at getting to shots on his off-side. If there's a nit to pick, I'd like to see quieter hands before the shot—like many young goalies, he'll twirl his stick—but that's a habit that can be coached out as he continues to mature. With the season around the corner, I would expect Grippo to contend to start for three or four years.     Even on tape, the passion and energy with which Naughton plays the position jump off the screen. With an explosive top hand leading the way, he's exceptionally quick and reactive, with a knack for making difficult saves look routine. Naughton is spectacularly light on his feet in the cage, displaying strong footwork, balance, and positioning. Despite his smaller frame, he does an excellent job cutting down angles and forcing shooters to be precise, covering all four corners effectively. His athleticism shows up out of the net as well, where he delivers clean, accurate outlets. Already owning an impressive body of work and earning rave reviews from trusted evaluators, Naughton will be an intriguing player to watch at The Woodlands as it looks to replace Steele Croom, who is now at Lehigh.     After allowing just three goals in two halves of play, <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2025/10/standouts-from-the-preview-playday-part-iii/">O'Connor was highlighted by Michael Campanile in October</a> coming away from The Preview, but is deserving of another mention. O'Connor is the type of goalie who makes it feel like he's all over every shot, and he doesn't look or play like a freshman at all. He reads shooters exceptionally well and covers all areas of the goal; even when slightly out of position, he quickly recovers and snatches the ball thanks to his lightning-fast hands. O'Connor has a command of the position that stands out among his peers, and he already looks like a kid who will compete for the starting job in a few months—likely against a returning junior following the graduation of Westfield's starter.

As we finish up an early look at '27s worth keeping tabs on going forward, we're back with a second wave of noteworthy goalies (coming on the heels of Part I), heading down to Texas and Georgia in addition to the usual hotbeds of New Jersey and New York.