He is one of the league leaders in save percentage, helped secure his team a first-round bye and has even made a case for league MVP. But if you asked Liam Entenmann how he feels about his second season in the PLL, he would brush it off and say it’s just a part of the process.
“My body of work has been solid and consistent,” Entenmann said. “I like to think I’ve helped my team more than I’ve hurt them. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Entenmann’s teammates see how the young goalkeeper operates both at practice and on game days. New York Atlas All-Pro defensive midfielder and team captain Danny Logan believes it comes down to how Entenmann prepares each time he steps onto the field.
“The way he goes about his prep is extremely professional. Even from when he first came into the league, he was acting like a pro right away,” Logan said. “You can tell he’s extremely dialed in as soon as he steps foot in whatever city we’re playing in. His routine is the same week to week, and that’s a really important part of being a pro — having a routine you can fall back on. A lot of guys prepare well, but Liam’s the best at it that I’ve seen out of a young player.”
While in season, Entenmann logs a short but intricate mid-week routine to ensure his body is at peak performance.
“It comes back to the basics,” he said. “Nightly stretching, morning mobility, lifting two to three times a week, cardio, good sleep, good diet and mental clarity. Performing when it matters comes from a lot of small wins during the week that no one sees.”
“Small wins” for Entenmann have paid big dividends for New York. The Atlas rank fourth in the league in score against average this season and boast the PLL’s best penalty kill (79.2%). Entenmann has played every single minute for New York this season.
Entenmann has dedicated a significant amount of time to investing in his own body in order to play at a high level. He has developed a hip mobility routine both during the week and before each game that he uses to keep his hips as flexible as possible, which helps him make saves closer to the ground.
“If I don’t keep up with my mobility, it’s not going to matter how good my hand-eye [coordination] is if I can’t physically get to those shots,” Entenmann said.
He notes that his style of goalie play uses his hips more than others. The 6-foot-3 Entenmann believes that his wide stance helps him make saves below his torso more easily than if he were to stand taller in net like most traditional netminders.
“I have had to learn how to be athletic within the frame of the goal and get in that crouch position and be able to throw a leg out there, but also being able to use my height to get those high shots,” he said.
Despite his wide stance needing a higher degree of maintenance, it is a price Entenmann is willing to pay.
“There are a few setbacks here and there,” Entenmann said. “My hips get really banged up after practices and games. … I’ve accepted that it’s part of it; I don’t complain about having to do the extra hipwork. It is more of a privilege to play in this league and play goalie, and if it takes a half-hour of hipwork a few times a week, then it’s not the worst thing in the world.”
New York’s second-string goalie, Will Mark, has played a crucial role in Entenmann’s success by being a second set of eyes on the sideline.
“He is always the first guy to check in after time breaks or halftime,” Entenmann said. “We bounce ideas off each other in practice and during games. … Honestly, Will deserves a lot of credit for what he does behind the scenes. It’s a huge reason why our defense performs so well when it counts.”
Though Mark and Entenmann were rivals in college (at Syracuse and Notre Dame, respectively), the two have formed a close bond to look out for each other and provide open feedback throughout the season. Mark has been able to grow from Entenmann’s knowledge and routines to help him prepare for an opportunity that can come at any moment.
“Liam’s humble and open, so we can talk about different situations,” Mark said. “Those conversations, whether in the hotel, on the bus, or at practice, help both of us grow as goalies. One of the biggest things you can do in this position is learn from others, and watching him while also picking his brain has been huge for me.”
Thanks to their first-round playoff bye, the Atlas will have two weeks off before their semifinal matchup on Sept. 1, which Entenmann believes will help with his recovery.
“I will probably take it light this week and then probably ramp it up leading up to the quarterfinals. Though we’re not playing, we’re going to be practicing,” Entenmann said. “I think I definitely could use a week to recover, which is probably why there’s a league-wide bye week, and then I’ll start to ramp it up so I am peaking at the right time.”
Top-seeded New York awaits the winner of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal between the Waterdogs and Maryland Whipsnakes, who will face off in Minneapolis on Aug. 23.
