St. Monica Academy alumna Molly Hagan is the first freshman in eight years to walk onto the Notre Dame Women’s Lacrosse team. Only three girls were allowed to try-out to walk onto the team, and Hagan was the only one to make it onto the 32-player travel roster.

Coaches told Hagan that she was in the top 20% of the team for speed and overall fitness. They were impressed by her mental toughness, enthusiasm and spirit, and said she could expect to get playing time as a freshman.

“We’re completely thrilled,” said Hagan’s dad, Jim. “She worked so hard on her fitness this past summer, but my wife and I were trying to be low-key. We knew it was a long shot, and we did not want to get Molly’s hopes unrealistically high. I couldn’t be more proud of her. ND’s campus will be seeing a lot of me this year.”

Hagan was the star of St. Monica Academy’s new lacrosse team last year and led the team to victories against athletic powerhouses like Long Beach Poly, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks, and La Cañada High School. She was also all-CIF in volleyball and basketball. In her senior year, Hagan captained the volleyball and basketball teams to the playoffs and was the League MVP for both.

“Molly’s successes and accolades put her alongside SMA’s top female athletes,” said SMA Athletic Director Darren Bradley. “But in terms of agility, strength and versatility, she is unmatched. She is SMA’s best female athlete.”

Hagan is now SMA’s fourth NCAA athlete and second to play for a Division 1 school. Notre Dame was ranked 14th in the country in Women’s Lacrosse at the end of the 2016-17 season, and they play in the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference with Boston College, UNC, Virginia Tech, Duke, Louisville, Virginia and Syracuse.

St. Monica Academy is a kindergarten through 12th grade school located on Del Mar Road in Montrose.