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Chris Kavanagh

Why Chris Kavanagh would make sense for Redwoods at No. 3 overall

By Phil Shore | Apr 20, 2025

California Redwoods general manager Joe Spallina was a guest on the March 26 episode of The Mitchell Pehlke Lacrosse Show. At the end of the interview, Pehlke asked Spallina to partake in their weekly “Start. Bench. Cut.” segment, where one is given three choices and, essentially, ranks them from the one they like most (start) to least (cut).

The choices for the week were family duos: Gary and Paul Gait, Chris and Pat Kavanagh, and Lyle and Miles Thompson. Spallina picked the Gaits to be the starters – Gary coaches Spallina’s sons Joey and Jake at Syracuse – and the Kavanaghs to bench.

Spallina talked glowingly about the Kavanaghs.

“I love the Kavanaghs. They are my kind of guys,” he said. “They’re the kind of guys you could win a lacrosse game with, you can win a bar fight with. I got to spend time with those guys at the Tewaaraton, and I love them. A Spallina-Kavanagh barbecue would be an actual, must-see event.”

The question was simply a fun game to play on the show and meant for entertainment, but Spallina’s answer might have provided a look at his thoughts on the upcoming draft, as the Redwoods are in position to potentially add Notre Dame attackman Chris Kavanagh with one of their picks.

California has the second and third picks in the 2025 College Draft presented by Q-Collar. With one of the picks, many presume the team will select Duke midfielder Andrew McAdorey. Only one Redwoods midfielder scored double-digit goals in 2024, McAdorey would give them a different type of player than the other large downhill dodgers and shooters the team features, and Spallina used to coach McAdorey in high school.

Who the team will select with the other pick is up for debate, but Adam Lamberti predicted the team would draft Kavanagh in his latest mock draft, and there are several reasons why that makes sense.

Spallina has made it clear this offseason that his top priority is to improve the Redwoods' offense. In that same podcast, Spallina talked about the team’s approach to the draft and how it needed to add midfielders to draw poles and an attackman to play behind the cage. Since that interview, however, the team has signed Dylan Molloy and traded for Brendan Nichtern. Alongside fellow new addition Jackson Morrill, any of those three are candidates to play the X attack position.

Kavanagh played at X for Notre Dame at the beginning of this season, and while he is a good passer, Lamberti noted in his prospect profile that Kavanagh is at his best when he can run, dodge and distribute from the righty wing.

Wes Berg has played that righty wing attack spot for California, but he’s also played in the midfield and has been effective in both positions. Lamberti pointed out Kavanagh could play midfield in the PLL because of his ability to shoot on the run. Either way, Kavanagh would bring flexibility and versatility to the Redwoods roster.

Kavanagh is from Rockville Centre, N.Y., and Spallina is known for adding fellow New Yorkers and Long Islanders. Pehlke’s co-host Kevin McDougal (known as Doogs) jokingly told him if he wants to build a championship-caliber team, all he needs to do is add more Long Islanders; Spallina responded, “I’m trying to.” While it was a tongue-in-cheek comment, he already has added New Yorkers Molloy, Nichtern, Aiden Danenza and Vince D’Alto. Moreso, Spallina has talked about making the team tougher with the acquisitions of Molloy and Nichtern.

One of Kavanagh’s trademarks is his tenacious play, going after loose balls and riding. He’s aggressive dodging to the cage, and there’s no questioning his toughness.

In Notre Dame’s recent game against Virginia, Kavanagh left with an apparent ankle injury, but he got it taped up, re-entered the game and scored a goal by wrapping around the crease and going airborne when the slide and contact arrived.

When the Redwoods added Molloy, head coach Anthony Kelly said Molloy's experience already playing with teammates like Morrill and Ronan Jacoby would help all the new additions in the locker room come together more quickly. Though he’d be a rookie, Kavanagh would already have some of those connections, as well, strengthening the connective tissue of the locker room.

California has a roster full of Notre Dame players. Kavanagh has been teammates with Chris Conlin, Chris Fake, Brian Tevlin and Arden Cohen. Additionally, Ryder Garnsey has been an assistant coach for the Fighting Irish for the past five seasons; Garnsey is particularly close to Kavanagh because Chris’s older brother, Matt, is Garnsey’s mentor and a close friend.

With two picks, California has a number of options to choose from at the top of the draft. Sam English and Sam King are also exciting prospects that would help boost the offense. Keeping Kavanagh in green and gold, however, seems like a real possibility, especially if Spallina was dropping hints.

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