TicketsApril 12, 2012
By Joseph Gryniewski
When freshman Megan Bell decided to come to the University of Cincinnati, she did so knowing that she was leaving the "Mecca" of lacrosse in America. Her hometown of Baltimore, Md. has been the major lacrosse hotspot for a long time, but instead of playing on some of lacrosse's biggest stages, she traveled more than 500 miles away to bring her talents to Cincinnati - and is proving it to be a worthwhile journey.
Bell has made an appearance in all 10 games this season, starting all but one. The fact that she has seen valuable playing time comes as no surprise, but the impact she has made in her freshman year is. In her young career, she has already shown to be a tough player who is quickly developing a strong all-around game.
Through the first 10 games, she leads the BIG EAST Conference and ranks sixth in the nation with 5.2 draw controls per game. Her ability on the draw is not going unnoticed either.
"Meg has been terrific on the draw this year," said head coach Lellie Swords. "It really has been a game changer for this team."
Bell is shooting the second-best percentage on the team at .600, and she is the team's third-leading scorer with 15 goals. Swords hopes Bell will continue her transformation as a more well-rounded offensive player.
"She has played a huge role on the team and I hope to continue to see her role evolving on the offense," Swords said.
If the first 10 games are any indication, she is well on her way. And while it's one thing to be dominating on the field, it is entirely another to consider the adjustments Bell has had to make along the way. As a freshman in communications, she has had to adjust to not only being far away from her friends and family in Baltimore, but also the tough first year of a Division-I student-athlete. Yet Bell has taken these challenges in stride.
"It has been a great first year experience, just getting used to D-1 and everything," Bell said. "All in all (UC) is great. They make it so easy to be a student-athlete and it's just a great place."
Through her success, Bell keeps quiet and defers credit to her teammates. She believes that selfless attitude rings through her entire team and is one of the most positive things going for the Bearcats.
"The most exciting thing is the team unity, we all get along and there are no individuals on this team. We get it done the right way," Bell said.
Bell is quickly making her name known throughout UC and the league, but she is still taking the time to stop and smell the roses.
"This has been a great first year experience, getting used to D-1 takes some time, but I love this team," Bell said. "I love it here, I feel great and I feel like (UC) is my home. I can't believe my freshman year is almost over."
While Bell is enjoying every minute of the ride and is excited for the future of the team, the sky is the limit for the freshman standout. Her impressive stats and selfless demeanor are a prime indication that the best is yet to come at UC.