Chayse Ierlan’s big playoff game reminiscent of his college success

During training camp, California Redwoods defensive coordinator Chris Collins watched as goalies Chayse Ierlan and Matt Knote competed for the team’s starting goalie position, left vacant after Jack Kelly was placed on the physically unable to perform list.

He said the two second-year netminders would have to work to separate themselves.

“Goalies are going to make saves,” he said. “At this level, you need the goalies that are going to be able to steal one, but most importantly, the goalies that are confident enough to hit the reset button when they give up a goal.”

Three months later, with the Redwoods in the quarterfinals against the Carolina Chaos, they were facing a goalie in Blaze Riorden who might be the best at stealing one – or more – particularly in the playoffs. Now, maybe more than ever, they needed Ierlan to do the same.

In the third quarter, the Redwoods were desperately trying to dig themselves out of a hole they had created for themselves. Down 10-5, rookie midfielder Andrew McAdorey scored back-to-back goals to provide California some sign of life.

The Redwoods still had a long way to go, however, and they couldn’t afford to give an inch of momentum to the Chaos.

After a shot clock violation with 6:12 remaining in the quarter, the Chaos came down on offense. With Cole Williams getting an inside step on the defender, drawing help, he moved the ball to X behind the goal. Redwoods defenders were out of position and scrambling to stop the ball, which left rookie sensation Owen Hiltz all by himself on the lefty wing 10 yards in front of the goal. He caught the ball and dangled his stick low, getting past Cole Kastner, who was flying at him. Chris Fake thought Hiltz had shot, and turned his back to try and block it with his backside, but Hiltz just kept moving towards goal.

He was now alone on the crease with no one but Ierlan in his way. Hiltz faked low, and Ierlan followed him. Quickly, Hiltz brought his arms up and went to pop the ball over Ierlan’s shoulders. Ierlan followed the ball and matched sticks with Hiltz while falling backward to stop the shot.

The Redwoods went on to score seven of the next nine goals to win the game 14-12 and advance to the PLL semifinals.

“That save on Hiltz, in the third quarter, was one of the best saves I had ever seen,” Ryder Garnsey said. “We’re trying to make a run there. They score a goal, they kill our momentum. After that save was [Romar Dennis’] two. You have a goalie making saves like that, the rest of the team is going to be feeling good.”

Ierlan has made big saves for the Redwoods in recent weeks, but anybody who followed his career in college, especially Cornell head coach Connor Buczek, would tell you they aren’t surprised.

“It was his ability to confidently lead us and compete through every minute of the 2022 NCAA tournament,” Buczek said, “that allowed us to make it to the national championship and compete until the last whistle.”

Ierlan arrived in Ithaca in 2019; as a freshman, he earned 11 starts and was selected as an honorable mention to the All-Ivy team after leading the conference in save percentage and finishing third in goals against average. In every game that he faced more than 10 shots, he made double-digit saves.

After almost all of two seasons were wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ierlan came back in 2022 and helped lead the team to 14 wins and a trip to the national championship game. Ierlan allowed fewer than 10 goals 11 times that season, including all four games in the NCAA tournament, and he even scored a goal in the team’s opening NCAA tournament game against Ohio State. His 212 saves that season are fifth-most all-time at Cornell.

Ierlan had plenty of success on the field, but it was what he did to prepare for those games and how he treated his teammates that impressed Buczek the most.

“Chayse is a great competitor that loves the game of lacrosse,” he said. “He would spend hours on the field after practice with different teammates taking shots and playing games. He has a gregarious personality that makes him attract people to him, and he’s a great leader because of that ability to connect with others. It didn’t take him long to take command of the net and become the centerpiece of our defense.”

After backing up Kelly in 2024 and getting off to a relatively slow start to the 2025 season with the Redwoods, Ierlan has taken similar ownership of the goalie position in the PLL, and California has enjoyed some postseason success because of it.

In the team’s victory over the Chaos in the quarterfinals, Ierlan made 18 total saves. Ierlan said his goal was to fight for the Redwoods to have more time together and extend the season. When head coach Anthony Kelly mentioned how many saves Ierlan had at the postgame press conference, Garnsey’s eyes widened, and he laughed.

“That’s a big number,” he said.

Buczek remembered Ierlan stepping up quickly for Cornell, and he said because of Ierlan’s competitiveness and love for the game, it was predictable he would do the same in the PLL.

“This allows him to get comfortable in the professional environment and keep working until he got his shot,” the Big Red coach said. “It’s no surprise that he earned the starting job and has become an important piece of the Redwoods’ success this season, especially in the biggest moments.”