Juggling tennis balls usually isn’t associated with a goalie preparing for a game.

For Northwestern’s Bailen Smargiassi, it is part of his pregame warmup. Over the past three years, he has made the most of juggling - literally and figuratively - two similar positions.

“I always carry three tennis balls in my hockey bag,” he recalled. “In fact, the set I’m using now has been with me for almost three years.

“I stand outside the locker room, and I juggle. It allows me to tune my hand-eye coordination and keep my focus. It gets me ready for the game.”

Smargiassi employs the routine before getting in front of the net for the Northampton hockey team in the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey League (LVSHL). In addition, the junior has been the starting goalie for the Northwestern lacrosse team for the past two years.

He will be back in net Tuesday night when the top-seeded Tigers host second-seeded and District 12 participant Devon Prep in the opening-round of the PIAA Class 2A lacrosse championship. The Tigers recently won their inaugural district title when they defeated Allentown Central Catholic, 8-6.

When he was six, Smargiassi began playing hockey. His lacrosse career began a year later in second grade.

He has taken a similar approach to both sports, but has learned to adapt in certain situations.

“I prepare the same for all my games,” he said. “Naturally, I find myself more focused in games where I face a high amount of shots and a little less with fewer shots.”

Smargiassi initially undertook the position of lacrosse as a favor to the team.

“I became a lacrosse goalie because my middle school team needed one for one game,” he remembered. “I played well, and since I was already a hockey goalie, I became the team’s goalie.”

He has appreciated the lacrosse team environment, and also having his older brother, Noah, on the team with him two years ago. It all helped create the scene for the program’s first district title in just its fourth year of existence. Last season, he guided the team to the district final.

Smargiassi set the team record for saves this season when he recorded 215. Over the past two years, he has 399 saves.

“In lacrosse, coach (Marcus) Janda stresses family, and I actually had my brother on the team during my freshman year,” said Smargiassi. “It was extremely beneficial to me.

“In the championship game, it was very motivating for me to see all of the alumni, and most importantly my brother on the sidelines. That motivated me to play better. The championship was for everyone on the team who could not be on the field that day.”

Janda certainly has relished Smargiassi’s contributions and maturity.

“Bailen has been a huge factor in our ascendancy this season,” said Janda. “For a team only playing its fourth season, it takes players that are willing to mature quickly to compete with the more established programs.

“Bailen embodies that, and is mature beyond his years, acting like a seasoned vet. He led Northampton to the hockey championship, and now helped us get to back-to-back district finals. He is as steady as they come. Nothing rattles him, and he rarely gets excited.

“He’s a natural ball stopper, but his biggest growth has been understanding our entire defensive scheme. He should be in the conversation as the best goalie in the district.

Smargiassi is ranked third in his class, and has perpetuated the same level of excellence he shows on the field in the classroom. He also plays the saxophone in the school band.

“He is an extremely talented student, which is a tribute to his work ethic,” added Janda. “He’s a special player, and a big reason why we’re doing special things this year.”

Whatever the final season outcome, Smargiassi already has a championship under his belt. This past winter, he helped guide Northampton to its second LVSHL title in the past four years. Smargiassi posted a 13-2 record with a 2.06 goals against average and a .924 save percentage.

But right now, his focus is on lacrosse, as he plans to help Northwestern ride the excitement and momentum of this season as far as it can.

But when the lacrosse season eventually ends, Smargiassi has some goals already aligned.

“Next year, I will be a senior, and I want to defend the championship titles with both Northwestern and Northampton.”

With Smargiassi behind them in goal, both teams will have one less area of concern.