Hart Keeping it 100

A collegiate career jam packed with hard work and mental strength led to an exciting outcome for senior Kaileen Hart, and she's far from done. On Feb. 24, in the 22-12 blowout against Brown, the Eagle officially became the 25th member of Boston College lacrosse's coveted 100 Point Club.

"I was pretty excited, but I didn't really think any too much of it," said Hart, a team captain for the 2018 season.

After making the switch from midfield to attack following her sophomore season, Hart never truly saw herself as a scorer, but worked that much harder to put up points for the Maroon and Gold.

"It was really hard," said Hart. "I always thought the attackers had it easy, but it's a different challenge. I had to work a lot to figure out how to play on the crease."

The Babylon, N.Y. native's performance has come a long way from her freshman year. Although she practiced every day by playing wall ball, she would still drop passes on the field due to nerves.

Hart would tell her freshman self to be way more confident, citing the way freshman Jordan Lappin plays as how Hart wish she would have.

"She just goes on the field – she's probably nervous – but she doesn't really care," Hart said. "I think I care too much. I was so nervous to even catch the ball."

The Eagle spirit that her teammates instill in her is unbreakable, especially when the senior knows that they have her back. She is especially inspired by juniors Sam Apuzzo and Dempsey Arsenault.

"They're just so intense," Hart said. "If they're not having a good day, I could say one thing to them and they just step it up and turn it around. They go so hard. It's kind of insane. I don't really know how they do it."

Lappin, Apuzzo and Arsenault also stepped up in the game against Brown and Hart believes this would have happened with or without adding her own 10 points.

"Even if I didn't step up, Jordan would've still had a hat trick day," said the attacker. "Dempsey and Sam both had five goals which is just incredible. It kind of just takes the pressure off of me when people who are supposed to, score, and then other people step up, like the freshmen and sophomores."

Though Hart is quick to credit her equally extraordinary teammates, head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein has seen the potential in Hart since her beginnings as an Eagle.

"Kail is the greatest kid," said Walker-Weinstein. "She's the hardest worker. It's so amazing to see what she's done from the day – which I'll never forget – when she committed to Boston College. She was just a baby back then, and now she's one of our leading point scorers, our captain and it's all because of her work ethic."

Both Hart and Walker-Weinstien, as leaders, try to introduce the culture of Boston College lacrosse in the younger players – the aspect of being an all-around good person.

"Acacia's definitely harped on that with us," said Hart. "When you're playing lacrosse here, you're more than just a lacrosse player. We care so much about our grades, about how we act outside of lacrosse. When something goes wrong or there's a mishap, we make a big deal out of it because we want people to be the best that they can. We definitely try to keep the culture sound and being good people and remembering that it's just lacrosse and you still have to be a good person outside of it."

Rounding out her four years as an Eagle, Hart knows the legacy that she wants to leave. She emphasizes that it doesn't matter where a student-athlete comes from or what skill sets they possess.

"I wouldn't have considered myself to be that skilled, but I just worked super hard to be where I am," said the senior. "It doesn't matter where you come from, but if you put in the work you can make a program great, and I was a part of that. I attributed to that and the people around me have. We're built on hard work and earning where you are."

The way Hart carries herself, how she treat others and her heart on and off the field prove that she's not just talking the talk – she walks the walk.

"I'm proud of her," said Walker-Weinstein. "She embodies the Boston College lacrosse way."

Boston College Athletics

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