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Graphic courtesy of Natasha Hernandez
There aren’t many better sources to go to on the art of goaltending than Brian Dougherty.
He’s a National Lacrosse Hall of Famer, three-time Major League Lacrosse Goaltender of the Year and a two-time Ensign Markland Kelly Jr. Award at Maryland. Dougherty’s got some credentials to talk about the position, to say the least. So when he drops this about Moe Sobel, whom he coaches at Springside Chestnut Hill (Pa.), you listen.
“He might be the best goalie I’ve ever seen at this age,” Dougherty explained. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I can just say that there’s something about Moe. He’s so poised, he’s big and he’s consistent. He wants to dominate the matchup every single time. That’s what has separated him the most. He takes it personally when he gets scored on. Moe has that attitude of greatness. He sees every shot as a matchup and a chance to prove that he’s better than the other guy.”
No. 1 for a Reason
Sobel is so special that he’s the first goalie to ever earn No. 1 honors in the recruiting rankings honors. He’s also the first Springside Chestnut Hill player to earn five-star honors and is the first Prime Time player to be chosen as the No. 1 player in the class. Yes, he’s that good. Sobel made 307 saves, including a 68 percent save percentage, this spring as a first-year starter for the Blue Devils after backing up Big HHH All-American and Penn State freshman Hayes Schreiner a season ago.
Sobel joined Prime Time this fall and immediately continued to prove why he was so highly thought of. The 6-5, 190-pounder shined at the NLF Fall Invitational when Nick Daniello‘s team went 3-0 against a stacked bracket. Daniello has seen Sobel steal many a surefire goal away, and he knows that he’s got a stacked goalie duo along with four-star Luke Valenti (Fairfield Prep, Conn.) as the 2027s head into their recruiting summer.
“I never thought I’d see a goalie this good,” Daniello said. “When it comes down to game-changing ability, having Moe is like having a cheat code in a video game. It’s about his energy and the confidence that he has in himself. He has an ability to embrace the big moment and make that big save. He moves extremely well and he’s very patient in the cage. Having a goalie with his size and athleticism is a big gamechanger because it makes it a challenge for guys when they think they have to place the ball. We’re blessed to have two extraordinary goalkeepers and I’m excited to see them at work this summer.”
A Unique Goalie Prospect
You’ve got to set yourself apart if you’re going to be the first goalie to earn the top slot in any rankings. Sobel’s done that in spades, but he’s not content with resting on his laurels. He recently earned U.S. Lacrosse All-America honors in Eastern Pennsylania, which never happens for a sophomore goalie. Ever. He’s played up with 2026s for a long time and had he been in the ’26 class, he would have been in the mix to be the top goalie. Sobel’s different.
“It’s an honor and I’m really excited about it,” Sobel said. “I’m just going to continue to work and get better at what I’m doing. I still think that I have a lot to improve on and I’m always trying to fix my craft.”
Big in Big Moments
He took over the Blue Devils’ cage this spring and it didn’t take long for him to realize that he’d be just fine in that role.
“I definitely felt good about that Choate game,” Sobel said. “We won 8-6 and I made 26 saves, and that was the most saves I’d ever made at this age.”
As is usually the case for a lot of big-time goalies, Sobel’s debut at the position was a touch more nondescript than his five-star status would say.
“I first started playing goalie around four years old and I was originally too small because I was four years old and playing U9,” Sobel said with a laugh. “I’d end up coming out after a while and playing attack. In sixth grade, I made the full-time switch and never looked back. I started to realize that I was pretty good in seventh grade and I thought I was all right.”
Yeah, you could say he’s all right.
Scouting Report
It takes a lot to be a trailblazer as the first player at your position to earn No. 1 overall honors. Sobel’s got everything that you want in a goalie. The size, the athleticism, the dimes in the clearing game, the ability to take over a big game, etc. are all there. He has an incredible ability to take away surefire goals off the board. Sobel’s usually good for one or two, if not more, of those per game.
Sobel’s 6-5, 190-pound frame is straight out of central casting for the goalie position. That, combined with his athleticism, makes him able to get a piece of so many shots that others can’t. He’s also got a magnetic personality and his presence elevates the confidence of the teammates around him. When you’re shooting, there’s not really a discernible weak spot to pick on. You’d better hope that he somehow just misses it.
Everyone will be calling him this fall. You can bet on that.