MORGANTOWN — Davis and Elkins women’s lacrosse defender Zoe Mackey has always set a high bar for herself regarding her goals, knowing they would only happen by putting in the hard work.
After a successful freshman campaign with the Senators, Mackey was named First-Team All-MEC and Freshman of the Year in the conference.
“I set some pretty big goals for myself coming in but knew that nothing would be given to me,” said Mackey, a University High graduate. “I was the only freshman coming into the team on defense and I had to fight for my spot right away. I have a very high drive and I love winning so I will do whatever it takes and work however hard it takes to be where I want to be.”
D&E head coach David Pomeroy didn’t need many words when asked to describe his outstanding first-year player.
“Grit,” he said. “To be freshman of the year as a defender, the only word for me to use is grit. Her focus and determination to be the best on the field is something you only see in upperclassmen. She needed someone to believe in her and give her the opportunity to prove herself, and she did just that.”
Mackey finished her freshman year leading the team in caused turnovers, which was second in the MEC, and finished second on the team in ground balls. She also added two goals and three assists from her defensive position. She set the season record for caused turnovers nine games into the season and is only five from breaking the career record after one year.
“On our team, we have ‘dawgs’ which are the athletes we rely on to get ground balls for us,” Pomeroy said. “Zoe wasn’t initially part of that group so she made it a goal to be there by spring. Come January, she wasn’t just named a dawg, she was one of the leaders on the team in ground balls. Again, that’s just raw grit.”
Mainly a goal-scorer in high school, Mackey said the adjustment from being a standout player to fighting for a starting spot was an adjustment but she knew what to expect coming in.
“I knew I wanted to play defense at a higher level,” she said. “Everyone loves scoring and playing offense but at this level, it’s really about trusting your teammates and doing a job.”
Winning a player of the year award as a defensive player isn’t common in most sports, so standing out was something Mackey certainly did on the field.
“Coach Pomeroy always tells me I am very flamboyant with my game, so I think that makes me stand out a little more,” she said. “Another thing too is people don’t expect defenders to have high stick skills, and with my background from playing attack and midfield in high school, it helps me do more on the field. If I end up with the ball after a caused turnover, I have the skills to run with the ball and do something more than just look for a pass right away.”
One thing that Pomeroy said Mackey isn’t lacking on or off the field is her love for the game of lacrosse.
“I truly never thought I would meet someone who loves lacrosse as much as myself,” he said. “That’s what makes her so great as a player. She loves her family, her coaches, her friends and teammates, and most importantly, she loves lacrosse.”
Now, after an award-winning freshman season, Mackey looks ahead to the rest of her career as she is determined to make sure she continues on her incline with her game.
“I always want to continue to improve and find ways to do it,” she said. “I don’t want to look back and see that my freshman year was my best year and I’m determined to make sure it isn’t.”
