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The Syracuse University women’s lacrosse team is ranked fourth in Division I.

So you might think the main factor in Mary Rahal’s decision to commit to the Orange was the fact they have such a strong thing.

That’s not quite true, actually.

Let the sophomore midfielder from upstate Queensbury High School explain.

“They don’t act like a team, they act like a family and that is what makes them such a great all-around team,” Rahal said.

A 5-foot-5 speedster, Rahal is an and aggressive and adept dodger who is also strong on draws, groundballs and on the defensive end, as evidenced by her highlight film.

Now, here’s a Q&A with Mary on her commitment.

What were the main factors in your decision?
There were many reasons why I chose Syracuse. One of the main factors toward my decision was knowing that Syracuse has really good academics which is key to me.

Also, I love playing lacrosse at a very competitive level.

Another reason I was so interested in SU was because the coaching staff and team are amazing, I absolutely love them.

They don’t act like a team, they act like a family and that is what makes them such a great all-around team. It is also very convenient for me and family to travel back and forth to see each other because it’s only 2.5 hours away from my home.

Knowing that my family will be able to come watch and support me at my future games makes me ecstatic. I felt like I was at home when I visited. We just clicked.

What other schools were you considering and what schools did you visit?
I was also considering other schools like Loyola, Boston University, the University of Florida and UNC. I visited Loyola and got to walk around the campus. The school was beautiful and has a great program, but is very small. I knew I wanted a bigger school so that helped to narrow down my choice.

I visited UNC at a camp during the winter.  I never got the chance to visit Florida and Boston University but both have awesome lacrosse and academic programs.

What are your strengths as a player and how would you describe your style of play?
I am very strong with my dominant right hand as well as my left hand. I’m quick and have fast feet which help me to be successful on dodging, shooting and full-field running.

My wrists are also quick and strong. That helps me to win the draw pretty consistently.

The best way to describe my style of play is unpredictable, aggressive and fast.

What area of your game do you need to work on?
As an individual, I focus on all areas of my game to improve on so I can be the best player that I can be. I also focus a lot of my attention on controlling the draw, footwork, defense and getting every single groundball. Which all of three are critical in winning a game.

How and when did you get introduced to lacrosse and what other sports have you played?
I got introduced to lacrosse when I was in sixth grade. I was walking to my class when I saw a poster encouraging girls to play lacrosse. I started in a local program called Adirondack girls lacrosse.

My coach, Bill White, always pushed me to be more then what I believed in me, even when I sometimes had doubts.

From that point on, I excelled to where I am today.  It is always important to me to continue to work my hardest so I can improve my game. I also play volleyball and basketball.

What travel team did you play on last summer and what showcase events did you participate in?
The travel team I play on is ADK 2015.  I have played in the following tournaments: The Rise, Champion Cup, Best of the Beach, All Star Express, Prime Time, Lax Clash, T3 and deBeer Presidents Cup.

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