Everett’s Kylie McCarthy was scoring goals at a record-setting clip as a midfielder on the Arlington Catholic High School girls lacrosse team.
With 111 goals in two seasons, McCarthy was looking forward to another prolific campaign in the spring of 2020. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of interscholastic sports seasons across Massachusetts and beyond.
A varsity player since her freshman year, McCarthy was sidelined from the sport she had competed in since fifth grade and from which she had emerged as an elite college lacrosse prospect.
But the news is now all good for Kylie McCarthy as she returns for her senior season for the AC Cougars: the talented, 5-foot-2-inch scholar-athlete has signed a letter of intent to attend Babson College.
McCarthy also considered Stonehill, BU, UNH, Bentley, and Roger Williams before deciding on Babson, a world-class institution known for its superior business programs.
“Babson was ultimately the school that just sold me,” said Kylie, who intends to study Marketing. “It has such a great campus. It’s not too far from home. I’m excited. It’s a great school academically and I feel I’ll get the full college experience there.”
Building a Foundation in the Sport of Lacrosse
Kylie McCarthy began playing lacrosse in the Malden Youth Lacrosse program where her coach was Mike Sullivan.
“My mom found Malden Youth Lacrosse in the next city over and she wanted me to play the sport and we got involved in it,” said McCarthy, who also played basketball at the Madeline English School and for the Everett Explosion and participated in dance and gymnastics as a youth.
McCarthy played two seasons of basketball at Arlington Catholic before turning her focus to lacrosse.
“I knew lacrosse was the sport I wanted to play in college,” said Kylie, who is known for her speed, elusiveness, and “take-it-to-the-net” prowess.
Though the pandemic canceled her junior season, she was able to advance her skills in the 3D New England Lacrosse program in the summer.
This spring, Kylie, 18, is hoping to lead the Cougars to an MIAA tournament berth. A CCL All-Star as a sophomore, Kylie said her goal when she takes the field is “to just try to work together with my team. I’m definitely a team player. I’m hoping we can be a playoff team this season. Our new coach [Rachel Fistori] is really shaping us into a team that works together and focuses on the positives. Our practices have been awesome so I’m excited for her to take over the program.”
Fistori, an Arlington Catholic alumna (Class of 2011) who played college lacrosse at Plymouth State, has been impressed by Kylie’s skills and her confident, straight-to-the-net style of play.
“She definitely has the potential [to be one of our top goal-scorers again,” said Fistori. “She definitely loves going to net and is great at it and executes when she does. She has emerged as a team leader from Day 1. And I think she will fit in very well in the Babson program.”
Support From Her Family
Kylie’s mother, Lisa McCarthy, and grandmother, Rita McCarthy, attended the Babson letter-of-intent signing ceremony at Arlington Catholic. “My mother’s been very supportive. She’s the best,” said Kylie. “My grandmother [Rita McCarthy] is also great, she’s my personal photographer and always gets the best lacrosse action shots of me during games. I also want to thank my teachers in Everett and everyone who supported me. And Mike Sullivan was a big source of my lacrosse development.” Reflecting on her daughter’s decision to attend Babson and become a college lacrosse player, Lisa McCarthy said, “I’m very proud of her. She loves the game.”