Grit, Grind, and Growth: Matt Keegan, A D1 Athlete’s Resilient Story

Here at Better Days our mission is resiliency and strength through adversity, much like our founder Dom Strebel's journey battling brain cancer, Matt's story proves that challenges and obstacles come in many different forms. For Matt his challenges along with his success and perseverance came from his passion for lacrosse! 

Matt Keegan’s lacrosse journey began at a young age, around three years old, when his older brother’s passion for the sport sparked his own. Wanting to follow in his brother's footsteps, Keegan picked up a stick and quickly found himself hooked on the game. From that moment, lacrosse became more than just a game to Keegan—it became his passion and an outlet for him. As he grew older, both lacrosse and the weight room offered him a way to channel his energy and clear his mind, especially during challenging times. With each game, practice, and workout, Keegan’s love for lacrosse deepened, and his dedication to lifting strengthened. Together, they became his go-to escape, providing both a sense of purpose and a way to stay grounded. It was clear early on that lacrosse and working out would always be central in his life. He often refers to lacrosse as the ‘medicine game,’ noting how it’s always had a ‘healing’ effect on him, especially during the lows of life. As he shared, “Whenever I play, I worry about nothing besides the practice or game. I think sports and physical activity are great tools for everyone to use when dealing with tough times.”

While lacrosse has always been an outlet for Keegan, stepping into the world of Division 1 athletics introduced a new set of challenges—both on and off the field. The level of competition is extremely demanding, challenging, but also rewarding, pushing him to constantly elevate his game, manage the demands of training, and balance the pressures of academics. As a D1 athlete, every practice, every game, and every decision became crucial, testing his resilience and determination in ways he had never imagined. To Keegan, the hardest part was managing his time. He often starts his day at 9 a.m. and doesn’t return to his apartment until after 7 p.m., noting that it can be ‘overwhelming to find time to do homework, treatment, and getting extra reps’ in while attending class and practice. The rigorous demands of being a student-athlete have caused Keegan to value time in a new light.

Despite the challenges, Keegan’s time as a Division 1 lacrosse player has taught him invaluable lessons that go beyond the game. While the demands of his sport, academics, and personal life were often overwhelming, they pushed him to grow as an individual. Reflecting on his growth, he shares, “You are challenged every day at practice, and you are playing against amazing competition every day. That type of environment means that you are going to fail sometimes, but I have learned that those times allow you to grow.” It’s clear Keegan feeds on these challenges and failures which has contributed to his enormous success within the game of lacrosse.

From time management to mental toughness, Keegan learned that being successful in such a high-pressure environment requires more than just athletic skill. It takes resilience, grit, and the ability to adapt in the face of adversity. As Keegan reflects on his journey, he recognizes that these lessons have shaped him both as an athlete and as an individual.

While the challenges of being a Division 1 athlete have been tough, the most rewarding part of Keegan’s journey has been the growth, both on and off the field. In his words, “the winning” has been the most rewarding. Keegan notes there’s no better feeling than seeing your hard work pay off and no better way to celebrate than with your teammates after a big win—something he says he’ll miss the most once his playing days are over. Keegan also finds the relationships he has formed have been equally rewarding, adding, “Being a college athlete has blessed me with so many amazing relationships. The guys I play with and have played with in the past are some of my best friends.”

Although Keegan's journey as a Division 1 athlete has been filled with growth and rewarding moments, it also led him to a major decision that would change the course of his career. After his time at Binghamton, Keegan made the difficult choice to transfer to the University of Maryland—a decision that would come with its own set of challenges and rewards. Keegan described the transition as one of the toughest decisions he has ever had to make. He reflects on his time at Binghamton positively, thankful for the memories and relationships he formed, noting that his team will always hold a special place in his heart. Leaving behind the memorable bonds and experiences he had built at Binghamton wasn’t easy, but it was a step he knew he had to take in order to continue growing both as an athlete and as an individual. “While transferring schools, I had to figure out what worked best for me and my family—academically, athletically, and financially. Maryland checked all of these boxes for Matt.”

Keegan’s story shows us all that if you just take that leap, amazing things can happen. Starting over can be scary and challenging, but Keegan shows us, through resilience and focusing on the better days ahead, that it can—and will—be okay. Keegan shares that he was nervous about the change, with his biggest worry being how the new guys on the team at Maryland would receive him. “As an outsider, you never know how the guys on the team will react and if they will take you in,” he admits. However, those worries quickly passed as he developed amazing relationships with his new teammates. Through this transition, Keegan reflects with gratitude for both Binghamton and Maryland.

Keegan is a true testament to the Better Days mentality, as he works hard each day to better himself on and off the field, as well as better those around him. To Keegan, as an athlete, being ‘gritty’ is something that allows him to close the gap and “excel over other athletes.” Keegan shares that his work ethic has allowed him to be successful, noting some athletes are born with more ability, but “toughness and work ethic come with what you give.”

Just as the Better Days mission embodies the importance of grit and resiliency, so does Keegan, as he discusses how being resilient has helped him overcome injuries and performances he viewed as not his best. Keegan discusses how both grit and resiliency aren’t just important in the sports world, but also in life. Stating, “Sports are so important for kids, and they have been for me because they teach you so much about life. You are challenged, and if you can be gritty and resilient in the sport, you will be able to conquer any challenge life throws at you.”

Matt shares that “Better Days’ tells me that even when things aren’t going my way, there will be more opportunities as long as I work hard and stay consistent.” Keegan is motivated to continue following his passion and become the best lacrosse player he can be. With that goal, Keegan is aware that it won’t be easy, but that doesn’t mean it will be impossible.

Keegan leaves us with some advice, sharing, “Work ethic is the most important thing when trying to accomplish a goal. If you can put your head down and work harder than everyone, you know you have done everything possible to be successful, and the result will be what it will be. In my experience, the hardest workers are the most successful people.” His advice reminds us all that “Hard work can beat talent when talent doesn't work as hard,” just like focusing on better days ahead beats letting the bad days win. Get bitter or get better, the choice is yours.

This advice comes from the challenges he has overcome, as well as the support of his family and the amazing coaches he has had throughout his career. Family is everything to Keegan. He notes, “I always looked up to my older brother as an athlete and a person.” Keegan shared that he grew up with three siblings, and they always found a way to make things a competition, which helped him with his competitive nature and grit. Keegan reflects on his experiences and the support his family has given him, sharing, “I am so grateful for my mom and dad and the values they have instilled in me to become the person I am today.” Keegan shares that his dad is his biggest role model, as he has always been the hardest worker he knew, saying, “I hope one day to become as good of a father and man as him.”

Keegan is thankful for all his coaches, as they all have made him the lacrosse player and person he is today. One coach, in particular, had a lasting impact on him: his Coach from his club, Team 91, Brian Spallina (@Brianspallina) Keegan shares that Brian Spallina always told his players to “play tough and with passion.” He noted that his energy on the sidelines and passion was contagious, pushing everyone to want to be better and dig into the challenges that were in front of them, without hesitation. His time playing for Spallina taught him the value of hard work and resilience, both on and off the field.

In addition to influential coaches, family, and teammates, Keegan shares that he has a number of valuable memories. Two that stood out to him were his high school team's run during his senior year, which he described as unforgettable as the whole fanbase and town rallied around his team. Keegan also shares that scoring his first collegiate goal is one he will always remember, stating, “I was so nervous, but to get the first one was an amazing feeling.” Keegan noted that his experience in Maryland is just beginning, but it’s already filled with amazing memories. He scored the first goal of the season in his debut for Maryland, finishing with a hat trick. The following week, he buried the OT game-winner—a true warrior making a lasting impact as the new transfer! Safe to say, Matt Keegan is HIM. 

As Keegan reflects on his journey to becoming a D1 athlete, it’s no surprise that he has great difficulty thinking about life after his collegiate playing career is over. It's often something most athletes struggle with. “I have dedicated myself to the sport, and to know that my college career ends soon is scary.” He shares that he is still trying to figure out his post-college plan, reflecting on some of his other passions, such as working out and lifting weights. Additionally, Keegan loves golf, sharing, “There is nothing like playing a round with your buddies on a sunny day. I also love how you can always strive to get better at the sport.” Keegan would love to keep playing lacrosse after college, whether that be professionally in the PLL or recreationally, noting, “I will continue to play for as long as I can. I would also love to give back and get into coaching in some capacity.” Keegan’s thoughts about life post-sports are ones that many athletes face, as they often feel lost. But Keegan’s testament to having other passions and being open to coaching shows us all that, despite the fear of the unknown there are always Better Days ahead, and always a way to stay resilient through our passion—even if it’s in a different form.

We are so thankful to have Keegan as part of the Better Days family, and we can’t wait to watch him light it up this season! Tune in February 15th for Keegan’s next game as Maryland takes on Syracuse. ROLL TERPS

Give Matt a follow @Matt_keegan16 on instagram and be sure to follow @Terpsmlax to stay updated on Keegan’s success this season!