As captain of his high school lacrosse team at Newark during his senior year: Gardner was an impact goalie who possessed great range in the net and the ability to make marquee saves during pressure situations. Gardner was known for his hard work ethic during his playing days at Newark. The freshman continuously worked and played hard both on and off of the field in high school, earning Most Improved Player honors during his senior year. As a goalie, Gardner provides the Lakers with a combination of length and athleticism in the net. He also provides the team with added depth at the position. Gardner is currently majoring in engineering science.