Ahead of Virginia career, Aislinn McCarthy reflects on path to success

Aislinn McCarthy didn’t start playing goalie regularly until her freshman year at Nobles.

Aislinn McCarthy wasn’t always a goalie. When she first stepped between the pipes, she couldn’t possibly imagine how fast her playing career would accelerate from there.

Compared to many of her peers, McCarthy came late to the game. She began playing lacrosse in the seventh grade, initially as a midfielder. Reluctantly, as a freshman at Noble and Greenough, she made the switch to goalie. A mere two years later, she was named an All-American and had a scholarship in hand to play for the University of Virginia.

McCarthy’s first taste of goalie play was in the eighth grade — and purely due to circumstance.

“We had a middle school game where we didn’t have a goalie,” McCarthy said. “I hopped in, and I ended up loving it and thinking this might be my thing.”