Merion Mercy midfielder Margo Carlin is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week

The sophomore midfielder has been a productive scorer (five goals and five assists as of Monday) and all-around performer for the Golden Bears field hockey squad this fall. According to Merion Mercy head coach Margaretha Ehret Carlin is “an integral part to our success this season, and is a key contributor on both attack and defense.” Against defending district champion Villa Maria earlier this season, she assisted on the game-winning goal, and tallied an impressive goal on a penalty stroke in the Golden Bears’ win over Radnor.  Outside of Merion Mercy, Carlin plays for WC Eagles and was selected to participate this summer in the Region 5 U-16 National Futures championship team. Her grandfather, Leo Carlin, was a Philadelphia Eagles’ ticket executive for more than half a century and is a member of the Eagles’ Hall of Fame.

Q: Can you describe for us your assist on the game-winning goal against Villa Maria, how the play unfolded, and your role in it?

A: I was able to get the ball to the top of the circle and make a move to the right side. I drove the ball towards the goal and Caroline Steller (who is always in the right spot) was able to tip in it for the game wining goal. We still had some fighting to do because there some time left on the clock. I was proud of our team that day.

Q: What do you think has been the key to your offensive production this fall?

A: The key is our teamwork and all of my great teammates. We have a lot of good players at Merion Mercy, and when we play as a team it produces victories. Coach Ehret always tell us “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Q: Do you find that playing center midfielder requires different attributes than playing right midfielder or forward?

A: I have been fortunate enough to play all positions, and they all require different attributes. When I play forward I am in more of a scoring mode, but at midfield I focus on distributing the ball down the field to open teammates and getting back on defense. I love playing all positions as long as I am helping the team win.

Q: What (to you) has been the highlight of you field hockey career outside of Merion Mercy – can you share with us?

A: I have been lucky enough to have many highlights playing for the WC Eagles and in the USA Futures program. Winning the U-16 NFCs was one of those highlights along with winning various NITs and NCCs with the WC Eagles, but the real highlights, and what is most important to me, are all the new friends and teammates I have met along the way. They are important relationships to me and hopefully they are relationships that will last forever.

Q: What do you think is the strongest aspect of your game? What part of your game are you working on the most currently?

A: While playing midfield I feel that I have a good ability to find the open teammate down the field along with having a strong drive and stick to get them the ball. I am currently working on playing the game a little faster, anticipating where to be on the field without the ball and taking more chances to create scoring opportunities.

Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 8. Was there a reason you picked that number?

A: I picked this number because seniors pick their numbers first and my regular No. 24 was taken. I picked the number 8 because this was my sister’s number throughout high school. No. 24 is our family number – it was worn by my grandfather when he was a football player at St. Joseph’s Prep, my father when he played at St. Joe Prep and Holy Cross, my brothers, and my sister later in her field hockey career – and I hope to wear it in the future.

Q: Tell us a little about your pregame preparation the day of a game.

A: My dad is always on me to eat well and hydrate on game day, I focus on my classes during the day but as soon as the school day is over I start to think about the game and visualize the good plays that will happen. I then listen to some pump-up music with the team and get on the field and warm up.

Q: Who have been your biggest field hockey mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each one?

A: Coach Ehret and Coach Morgan from Merion Mercy; Jun and Richard Kentwell, Guy Cathro, Mark Foster and JaJa Kentwell from WC Eagles;  my Mom and my sister, both of whom played college field hockey and my Dad. I have been able to learn many different, great, and helpful things from each one of these people. They have all been field hockey mentors and coaches to me and I have been very lucky to have them in my life.

Q: Do you participate in any other extra curricular activities at Merion Mercy? What sparked your interest in each of these activities?

A: I participate in two clubs at Merion Mercy – Mercy Works and Women for Life and Love. Mercy Works is led by two seniors on the field hockey team, Emily Tecco and Alison Zarella. In Mercy Works each member of the club writes a letter to one of our Merion Mercy alumni who are out in the world doing service work. In these letters we wish the girls luck in there service and let them know we are thinking about them. Women for Life and Love is a club that focuses on women’s issues and respect for life issues.

Fun facts – Margo Carlin

Favorite book: The Outsiders.

Favorite TV show: Friends.

Favorite movie: Parent Trap.

Favorite athlete: “Too many to mention.”

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Closer.

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Favorite place to visit: Florida.

Favorite pre-game meal: Grilled cheese.

Favorite color: Blue.

Person I most admire: “My parents – they have shown me how to love, how to be strong and what it means to be courageous.”

Birth date: Feb. 1, 2001 in Drexel Hill.

Family members: Mom (Suzanne), Dad (Leo), siblings Karleigh, Leo and Keenan.

(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)

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