Mount St. Mary’s women’s lacrosse senior Addison Malone recently chatted with PressBox about making the switch to defense in college, the bond of the senior class and more. The 5-foot-7 defender picked up 17 ground balls, won 12 draws and caused 6 turnovers in 2023. Malone is a native of East Prospect, Pa., and graduate of Eastern York High School.
PressBox: How did you become interested in lacrosse?
Addison Malone: I started back when I was a young girl. My brother played lacrosse, so I started in boys’ lacrosse. I didn’t really like it, and then I decided maybe like a year later to join with girls’ lacrosse. I wasn’t really too serious into it until I joined my club team, the York Invaders. I got into it and I just fell in love with the game because of my coach from the club team, [Ray Black]. That’s how I started getting serious about it and wanting to [get] recruited and play at the next level.
PB: Who were the biggest influences on your game growing up, starting with your club coach?
AM: I would say my club coach. I called him Coach Ray. I would also say both of my parents and my grandparents were big influences on the game. They always pushed me just to be an overall athlete and always play my best, so I would say they’re big influences on the team.
PB: Why did you choose to go to Mount St. Mary’s?
AM: I chose to go to Mount St. Mary’s because we are a very competitive team. When I was getting recruited, they won [the regular-season conference title]. They just lost to Wagner by one [in the conference tournament championship game]. Looking at it, they were a winning program. I just knew I wanted to be a part of this team that was winning. It was just a goal of mine that was never even in reach and then when I figured, “Oh my gosh, I can totally play on this team. [Head coach Lauren Skellchock] is reaching out to me.” It was just like a dream come true. I always wanted to be a part of a team that wanted to win, so I came here and I was able to win two conference championships and play in the NCAA Tournament twice so far. I’m hoping to do that again, but it was just like a dream come true. It’s more than I ever imagined.
PB: What’s your favorite memory at the Mount so far?
AM: My favorite memory would be beating Bryant my sophomore year [to win the Northeast Conference in 2022]. I was able to play in that game, start. It was the best day of my entire life, beating Bryant and winning that conference championship.
PB: You have started every game the past two years and are asked to do a lot of the dirty work. What is that role like for you?
AM: I think it’s an honor to have that role. I know my teammates look up to me. I know my coaches depend on me. I know they have confidence in me. It’s a confidence booster. I know this is my job, this is what I have to do. I rely on the other girls to score and make those big plays. It just feels like a really good confidence booster. It’s really nice to have people knowing that I have their back and they have mine.
PB: You scored 229 goals in high school. What was the process like in adjusting to a new role as a defender in college?
AM: I came in here and I think it was kind of a culture shock. It’s a whole new level going from high school to college. When Lo came to me and said, “Hey, we want to put you on defense,” I totally bought in right away. I was like, “Listen, I don’t care. I want to be on the field and I want to help the team the best way I can.” We had conversations like that where she’s like, “Addie, I know you don’t care.” And I don’t. I don’t care about goal-scoring. I mean, yeah, it was really nice to have that throughout high school, but if this is what I’m going to do to help, I’m going to totally buy into that and I’m going to be OK with that. I’d rather be on the field than off the field playing my [original] position. I totally bought in with it and I’m totally fine with it.
PB: Had you played any defense prior to coming to the Mount?
AM: I was always a midfielder. As a midfielder, you play both sides of the ball but never a full-on defender.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Emmitsburg?
AM: It’s a small town and it’s just nice that we all live around each other. We can just walk to each others’ houses. It really give us a good team dynamic to be so close in such a small town. There’s not much to do around it, but then you have to look at the positives. It just gives you more time to be with your friends.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
AM: I couldn’t say I have one best friend, but I would say honestly the entire senior class, we’re all so close. I think coming in with that COVID year, we had so much bond and we got through it. It’s already hard enough to come freshman year. It’s new. And then you come in and you can’t go anywhere. We’re in complete lockdown. It’s a huge change in your life, and I think our bond is just so close. I couldn’t even pick one girl to be my best friend. I know those girls, we couldn’t take just one. I honestly think we’re all like sisters now and we just all have a great connection and a great friendship that is unbreakable because we’ve been through so much these past four years and we’ve grown together.
PB: Who was a player you looked up to when you first got to the Mount?
AM: I would say Kaitlyn Ridenour. I look up to Kaitlyn Ridenour. I look up to Kate Kinsella. Honestly, there’s just so many girls from my freshman year that were seniors and fifth-years. I could name almost all of them. I would look up to KR because she was a defender and I think her leadership was great. She was very blunt and hard-working. I always wanted to be like her. I always want to play with that aggressiveness and stuff like that. I would say Kaitlyn Ridenour, but I would say all of those girls I was able to go under their wing and I was able to learn from them and I think that’s what makes me a good player and competitive and continuing the culture throughout.
PB: What advice do you have for younger players going through the recruiting process who might not understand it’s possible they switch positions in college?
AM: My advice is to not get overwhelmed and just embrace it. Don’t get frustrated. Your coach always knows what’s best for the team, and if you do get moved, that’s not a negative thing at all. They see something in you. They see, “OK, you aren’t going to be ready to produce as a midfielder, but I see potential in you at another position,” whether that’s attack, defense, whatever it is. You need to embrace it as a positive because if they weren’t trying to change your position, it’s almost like they’d be overlooking you, so I wouldn’t take it as a negative. You need to embrace it and just work as hard as you can.
PB: What are your goals for after lacrosse?
AM: I want to graduate. I want to get a job in teaching. I’m an education major, so I want to get a job in either elementary education or a special education job. I want to get into coaching for lacrosse or any type of sport. I played field hockey and basketball in high school, so I’d be interested in that, too. I just want to give back to the sport. I don’t think I’m ready to hang it up yet or completely leave it. I definitely want to start coaching and get a teaching job.
Photo Credit: Tyler Kraft
Issue 285: February/March 2024
Originally published Feb. 21, 2024