There was a scramble near the 40-yard line as the clock dwindled in a Big Ten rivalry game between host Ohio State and Penn State. The Buckeyes came up with the ball in this late-April matchup.

Ahead 10-9, Penn State was facing a desperation possession from the Buckeyes. With just under 11 seconds left, Ohio State found itself in a 1-v-1 against Aleric Fyock — a goalie making his first career start. It was a golden opportunity.

Fyock held his ground, reacting to a shot stick-side low and sending the attempt ricocheting away from the crease. It was the game-saving play.

“To my amazement, he saved the ball offside low, and I got out of my chair and started freaking out,” said Caleb Fyock, who watched every moment of his older brother’s big day.

It was a huge save that not only gave Penn State a much-needed win in Big Ten play, but also put Aleric Fyock on the radar in college lacrosse. 

This was the first — and certainly not the last — time the lacrosse world would hear Fyock’s name. The best part of his story? It might be the family he has behind him.

Lacrosse families come in various forms like the Gaits, Powells and Thompsons. For the Fyocks, the goalie position bonds them together.

Aleric Fyock, now a Penn State senior, is competing for a starting spot this spring. Caleb Fyock, the No. 11-ranked player in the 2023 class, recently announced his commitment to Ohio State once he finishes his career at St. John's College High School (D.C.). Their father, longtime goalie coach Rob Fyock, is partially responsible for getting them to this point. As for their mother, Jessica, she serves as the glue for the family — and she’s a big lacrosse fan, too.

“I think she was watching more PLL games than me this summer,” Rob Fyock said. “She loves it all.”

It was his mother’s interest in the sport that got Aleric Fyock into playing lacrosse at a young age.

“My wife was the one who really got Aleric into playing goalie,” Rob Fyock said. “He was playing rec and ended up on the ‘B’ team. They needed a goalie and were having tryouts with the winner getting to play defenseman on the ‘A’ team. My wife was like, ‘Why don’t you try it?’ He made it and has been playing goalie ever since.”

Caleb Fyock found his passion for the goalie position by watching his older brother play over the years.

“He is the biggest reason why I started playing lacrosse; for the goalie position he is the reason why I started playing there,” he said. “I saw he was good at it, and I saw it was an important position, and I wanted to have that same experience, I wanted the team to come running after me after a big win and I wanted to be the game changer in lacrosse.” 

Their father helped shape their trajectories in the sport. Rob Fyock grew up in Western Pennsylvania, where lacrosse was scarce. Outside of family visits to Maryland, he was barely exposed to the sport. Still, he had an instant curiosity about the game.

It grew into a passion for teaching. His sons gave him an opportunity to practice coaching.

“When Aleric got to high school, I took notes and started to formulate my personal coaching approach on how I saw kids’ strengths and weaknesses,” Rob Fyock said. 

While his dad was growing as a coach, Aleric Fyock was generating interest by many of the top Division I programs in the country. After his freshman year at St. Mary’s, he committed to Penn State, in large part due to his family’s history in Happy Valley.

Rob Fyock is now regarded as one of the top goalie coaches in the DMV area.

“For the last eight years, I’ve observed his coaching of goalies that spans from youth to college. He’s been that savant who’s thrown himself to become a better coach,” said Whipsnakes goalie Brian Phipps, who runs GPS Goalies with Rob Fyock. “He’s as good of a goalie coach as anyone I know and might not have the name recognition but has the knowledge and love for the game to help those goalies get better.” 

Despite the same passion for goalkeeping and the same father showing them the ropes, Aleric and Caleb Fyock are drastically different. Aleric Fyock is low key. He prefers to go about his business and lead by example. He’s also a student of the game with a passion for its ins and outs. 

“Aleric is more quiet and reserved,” Rob Fyock said. “At the same time, he can sit in a room and talk about lacrosse and Xs and Os with Dave Cottle for an hour.” 

On the flip side, everything about Caleb Fyock is big. Physically, he’s a robust 6-1, 265 pounds. He’s also an extrovert with a considerably more outgoing personality than his older brother. Behind his large exterior is a warm, welcoming teammate and friend.

“He is definitely a guy that will win and control the room,” Phipps said. “I think you see that with his social media nickname, ‘Big Tasty.’ His charisma and love for his teammates make other guys love him as well.”

Even their high school routes showcase their differences.

Aleric Fyock always knew he wanted to go to St. Mary’s Annapolis. He had received private lessons from former goalie coach Jack Manley and formed a relationship that led him to the Maryland powerhouse. 

While Aleric Fyock felt that magnetic connection to St. Mary’s, his younger brother did not. He decided to branch off on his own. He chose St. John’s College High.

“I want to make sure we’re still known when I leave,” he said. “I want to leave the program better than when I found it.”

St. John's College High would become a familiar sight for the family. Before Caleb Fyock’s freshman year, coach Wesley Speaks reached out to Rob Fyock to gauge interest in being his goalie coach. After not showing initial interest, he accepted and has been coaching the Cadets ever since. 

When September 1 of his junior year came around, Caleb Fyock had plenty of college offers. He recalled Maryland coaches John Tillman and Jesse Bernhardt coming to see him during his lunch and getting calls and texts from Dave Pietramala of Syracuse. Given the family ties, Penn State was also on the table.

“I remember receiving a call from Columbus, and it was an ecstatic coach [Nick] Myers. I was his first call, and I'll remember that for the rest of my life. I visited the campus and fell in love with the people, coaching staff and players. The whole staff were people that I could discuss anything with.”  

While on his visit, Caleb Fyock had separated from his parents and sent a text to his father. It was simple yet profound.

“I see me here,” he wrote. “I see other [Black] players that look like me.”  

The crease is like home for the Fyock family. It’s spawned a passion and shared bond for them all.