This “Player Spotlight” interview appears in the November edition of US Lacrosse Magazine. Don’t get the mag? Join US Lacrosse today to start your subscription.

Marie McCool

Midfield // North Carolina ’18

1. You were named a finalist (team sport category) for the Women’​s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year Award for your performance this past year. How have you been able to succeed at both the collegiate and international levels?

I am proud to see the sport of lacrosse recognized at this level and hope to see more lacrosse players nominated in the future. I would not be up for the Sportswoman of the Year Award without my UNC and Team USA teammates and attribute a majority of my success to them. They have challenged me to be a better person and player every day.

2. Why is Lyle Thompson your favorite lacrosse player?

My favorite part about Lyle is how creative he is and how he takes risks. His stick work is the best I’ve seen, and he is a playmaker. What I’ve noticed about Lyle is his vision and patience, and his ability to read his defenders. The men’s game has always been a little faster, and I am excited to play with the new rules this year that will make our game more similar to the men’s. There are a lot of aspects of the men’s game — like creativity, different types of shots, dodges and overall fluidity of the game — that women can bring to their game.

3. After winning gold medals at the World Cup and World Games, what have you learned and taken back with you to UNC?

One, every person is valued and treated equally. It doesn’t matter who goes to the front of the line, or who sets up and cleans up the field. We are all teammates. Two, how important that mental piece of a player or a team’s game is even when you have the best athletes or talent on the field. And three, the importance of the process — it’s important to focus on one task or game at a time and every detail in order to reach success.