Sports Spotlight: Caroline McCarthy | Observer Preps

Sophomore Carolina McCarthy is taking full advantage of her time playing middie for the West Orange girls lacrosse team this season. With multiple games in which she has racked up at least four goals for the Warriors, McCarthy is a versatile player who enjoys both attacking the goals on offense and winning back balls on defense.

What first got you into lacrosse?

I started in sixth grade, and I played most sports. I was trying to find one I really loved, and I wanted to find a sport that I could play club and really be competitive in. I got drawn to lacrosse, because it’s so physical, and I just love how unique it is with the stick. It’s really fast. Everything about it is so intriguing.

What has been your favorite thing about playing at West Orange?

Just the team feel and having all these friends — you have 15 other girls that are there for you always and have your back. Our coaches are amazing and they always hype us up. … We have so much fun.

What would you say is the most fun, and most difficult, part about playing middie?

I love being able to play on both sides of the field — getting to tactical and then going back to defend. The biggest challenge is having to run the field the whole game, but it’s worth it, for sure.

What’s some of the best advice that coach Nicole Thorndill has given you?

I would say the best advice is, you’re just going to have to put in that extra work and that extra run, because there is always someone better than you, and you have to show that you want it.

You put a lot of time into playing lacrosse, so what motivates you to push through the hard days?

Honestly, just trying to be the best that I can be, and I look up to those D1 college athletes and players, just watching them play and be so amazing. I just want to follow in their footsteps and play in college. I just have to look ahead and putting in the work now that’s so hard, but it’s all worth it.

How do you balance school and lacrosse?

It’s probably one of the biggest challenges of being a student-athlete, you have to manage your time really well, and I’m still working on that. You just have to get yourself organized and do as much as you can in school so when you go hope you won’t have as much and can practice.

You still have a couple of years at West Orange, but do you have any plans down the line after you graduate?

I’m still trying to figure out my path, but I really do want to go play lacrosse in college — wherever that may lead me. After college, I really just want to go have a job and work my way to the top, and show girls you can do anything.