“Gamer” is a word that comes up a lot with Swiney, both from coaches and from watching him play. When I watched Resolute and Project Midwest this summer, he always seemed to be the goalie making the big-time saves. He had two other studs to compete with across those rosters, and while we ranked him third among the Resolute/Project Midwest goalies, I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he could be at the top of that group a year from now.

Swiney isn’t the most technically sound goalie. He plays with a wide stance and can get caught out of position, but his reactions and explosiveness stand out. He steals saves by firing toward the ball on shots in tight, going pipe to pipe, and reacting to rebounds. His athleticism shows when he springs to the ball or throws a leg out to make a save, but it’s just as apparent outside the cage. He’ll race attackmen to the endline, get into groundball scrums, and escape pressure on the clear. His outlet release is super smooth, and he knows how to drop a pass in the bucket, too.

Already accomplished in his own right, the younger brother of UAlbany rising sophomore Wally Swiney plays an excitable brand of the position that’s easy to love and has endeared itself to recruiters. He plays with a considerable amount of energy, showing off ridiculous hand speed while playing a wide base. Swiney is outstanding in close and will jump out and steal shots from would-be scorers within a few yards of the crease, in addition to piling up extra possessions with his work outside of the goal. Facing a rigorous schedule of top programs on the East Coast, his film from NHSLS was excellent and demonstrated his level of poise when the lights were the brightest. In the clearing game, Swiney has a penchant for making the right decisions and will get the rock up and out to trigger transition.