Boston College’s Mallory Hasselbeck primed for return in freshman season
NEWTON, Mass. (BVM) – Mallory Hasselbeck enters the Boston College lacrosse program as the top-rated incoming freshman on a team that’s fresh off a national championship run. As she quickly adjusts to things on the field, her biggest issues early on have come off of it.
Luckily for her, she knows exactly who to go to as she figures her way around.
“I called [my sister] on my first day of classes because I went to the wrong class… and I was like, ‘I messed up,’ and she’s like, ‘It’s OK it’s the first day of school,’” Mallory said. “She has my back and she’s always looking after me.”
Her sister, Annabelle, a sophomore on the Eagles lacrosse team, has made things easy for her younger sibling as she transitions to the world of being a student-athlete. Growing up, the two picked up the sport around the same time and have been inseparable when it comes to their play on the field.
After playing without her last year, Mallory has appreciated the opportunity to rejoin her sister on the same team after watching her from the sidelines during the Eagles’ tournament run.
“It’s just nice to have [her],” Mallory said. “The girls on the team are awesome, but there’s a different bond between you and your sister, so to have her there, and see her everyday at practice and [at] lifts, has been super nice.”
As Mallory prepares for the upcoming season, she isn’t taking her work on the field for granted. The Boston College freshman tore her MCL, ACL, and meniscus during the Under Armour All-American lacrosse game in 2020 and has been spending the past year rehabbing the injury.
Along with missing out on her senior campaign, Mallory would also have her junior season taken away with COVID cancellations. The Eagles freshman has been hard at work since being cleared after her surgery and recalls certain milestones throughout her rehab process, like an early return to running on the treadmill. Following months of workouts, her return to the field this past fall has been a long time coming.
“I would say at first, it takes a little bit of an adjustment just getting back into the swings of things, but it’s been so fun,” Hasselbeck said. “People look at me and they’re like, ‘Why are you smiling? We are doing warmups.’ I’m like, ‘This is the coolest thing ever.’ I just missed it so much. I think I have a new appreciation for it and I’m just happy to be out there.”
The past year has taught Mallory a lot about herself on and off the field. Thankfully for her, she says a strong support system has kept her focused. Whether that be work with her dad and siblings in the backyard or a pick-me-up on her team’s game days, she feels privileged with all the help that her family and friends have offered.
“I definitely missed playing in the games, or almost just getting hit when you’re shooting, as silly as that sounds,” Mallory said. “You can only have so much competition with yourself when you’re just playing wall ball. But I do think, as months went on and as weeks went on, I gradually gained a new thing. Like I can shoot, or towards the end my dad could take a pad and hit me as I’m dodging [to] kind of simulate the game situation. So, It definitely was hard.
“Anyone going through an ACL or really any injury knows that being away from the game in that sense is so tough mentally and physically, but I had a great support system around me that really helped me get through it and set me up for success.”
With the season just a month out, Mallory has enjoyed the growing relationship she’s made at Boston College and is hoping she can make a positive impact this year whether that be on the field or from the sidelines. The opportunity to learn in her first year under a championship coaching staff isn’t something she’s passing up as she aims to build on the little things early on.
“I really do think BC is so special in that they do build relationships between the players and coaches,” Mallory said. “There’s really not a big disconnect there, so everyday I show up and [I feel] so privileged to be coached by [Coach] Acacia, Sam Apuzzo, Jen Kent, Billy Bitter. It’s just so special and I really think that the relationships I have with them are just going to continue to grow.”
Mallory Hasselbeck with the 1-handed interception. What sport, @Hasselbeck? 🥍🏈 @BCwlax | https://t.co/oJkK8CQ2nw pic.twitter.com/QegqDUvL5S
— Lax Sports Network (@LaxSportsNet) October 16, 2021
Without competitive play in nearly two years, the Eagles’ opening should make for a special one as Mallory is set to open up regular season action on her birthday. The Eagles freshman was able to take part in some game action during the USA Fall Classic back in October.
“As much as the ACL was terrible… I’m really grateful that it happened because I learned so much about myself and as an athlete,” Mallory said. “I think the ACL really just taught me, you have to work hard even when people aren’t and when people aren’t watching.”
