Northwestern senior defender Fallon McGraw, a former St. Mary?s standout, has recorded six ground balls and played in just 35 games in her career.
But starting with tonight?s Final Four game against fifth-seeded Syracuse at 6 at Towson?s Johnny Unitas Stadium, she will try to help lead the top-seeded Wildcats to their fourth-straight national title as one of four members of the most successful class in school history.
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“It?s so exciting to be home in Maryland and this atmosphere will draw a lot of attention to lacrosse,” McGraw said. “A lot of my friends are home from school and my family is from around here, so they will be at the game. It?s been a great opportunity to be a part of this. It?s definitely nothing you expect but everything you dream of. Growing up here when you are little, all you wanna do is play for this.”
McGraw said the choice to attend Northwestern (19-1) over Yale four years ago was easy after visiting both schools. It also turned about to be a good decision: Northwestern has won three national titles and is 80-3 the past four seasons; Yale has made the NCAA Tournament only once and is a more modest 43-22.
McGraw, a communication studies major, hasn?t received significant playing time, but she has an important role as a leader in practice and on the sideline.
“Coach says our greatest competition is ourselves, and I think that has been true,” she said. “Everyone plays such an important part of our wins. We just try to stay focused on one game at a time and not get too overwhelmed. I don?t know if it?s as much pressure, as excitement.”
Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said the same characteristics that made McGraw one of her top recruits are the same ones that make her so valuable to the Wildcats.
“[Fallon] had a lot of potential and could really fit into our team mentality,” Amonte Hiller said. “She?s just a true leader and unselfish and she really has a great perspective on things and is going to put it out there everyday.”
McGraw likely won?t make much of an impact on the field on Friday, but another Wildcat with local ties ? Casey Donohoe ? will play a major role against the Orange (18-2). The junior midfielder and former Notre Dame Prep standout has started every game this season and is fifth on the team with 36 goals to go along with three assists.
“It?s nice to be somewhere that?s so familiar,” Donohoe, a radio, television and film major, said. “I have a pretty big family and they are all coming, and so is whomever is home from school, about 20 or 30 people. Anytime you can come home and play it?s nice, and anytime you have an opportunity to play in a Final Four no matter where, it is nice.”
