Wolverine Athlete Spotlight: Margaret Metzger
2/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Feb. 25, 2015
Sophomore Margaret Metzger discusses how she worked her way into a starting role as a defender and how the defense is improving as a unit, and also touches on the team's excitement to play its home opener against St. Bonaventure on Saturday (Feb. 28).
On her evolution as a player since she arrived at Michigan ... "I think for me it's been about seizing opportunities when I get them. I obviously came in with the intention to play -- I started off as a midi and kind of tried to find my role there, on the draw and getting ground balls, and trying to make the most of every opportunity I got. Every time I saw the field I tried to give 100 percent. This year I've been playing a defensive role, and I'm happy to play any role where the team needs me. I've really enjoyed it and I think I'm meshing well with the defenders. The starters from last year are showing me the way."
On what she focused on the most over the summer ... "My specific focus was fitness. The run test and I have had a long history so I really wanted to come in as fit as I could. I had the same focus this year over winter break, I really ran a lot and tried to be in the best shape I could be when I came back."
On her fitness and personal improvement earning her a starting role ... "It's really exciting. It's great to know that your goals can be achieved if you work hard. But I think if anything, it just makes me hungrier for more and makes me want to come in every day and get better. A starting role is great, but I don't want to stop there -- I want to keep doing everything I can for the team."
On her fitness level allowing her to play all 60 minutes and overtime at Winthrop ... "I think it really has paid off. I'm not accustomed to playing a full game, so it ended up being really crucial that I did come in fit. In a defenders role, I'm not up and down the field as many times as I was as a midi, but I'm clearing the ball a lot, and I do think it has paid off."
On the defense executing well at Winthrop ... "I think for us it was huge to have success with the backer D. It's something we've been working on really hard in practice and to finally see it work meant a lot to us. To see that we could trust in that defense and trust in each other was big for us. I was able to come up with ground balls because of great defensive plays by my teammates, specifically Kelly Kubach -- a lot of times she would make the turnover and then I could come up with the ground ball."
On the team believing in themselves ... "We've focused a lot on positivity lately so I think that's been huge for us. Every time after a goal, we huddle and regroup and talk about what happened. We focus on the next play -- we've been saying that a lot lately -- 'next play' and 'next five minutes' so I think having a short memory and coming together and being positive has really worked for us."
On the team's mindset this week ... "We were obviously very disappointed with the result at Winthrop, but we come in positive to practice and just have to attack it because we have to focus on the next game -- we want to beat St. Bonaventure. With those games, you come so close and it's tough to lose in those situations, but we know that those games will go our way eventually. We're just going to keep working and focus on the next game."
On preparing for the home opener ... "We're super excited to play at home. Traveling is fun, but it's so nice to play on our home field. We can't wait -- we're comfortable here, we love Oosterbaan, so we're really excited to see how it goes. Our main focus is going to be on positivity and putting the past stuff behind us and focusing on our next opponent."
• Previous Spotlight: Brooke Pancoast
Communications Contact: Whitney Dixon (734) 763-4423
