Allison McLaren's road to the field hockey turf is a journey of initial failure, perseverance, hard work and ultimately success.
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Her story is one that transcends sports.
It's a lesson in life.
The Franklin & Marshall sophomore went from spectator to the Diplomats' leading goal scorer in the span of a year.
The combination of a hip flexor injury, a coach that didn't recruit her and subpar play led to McLaren being cut from the F&M team as a freshman.
"You could see that she had good game knowledge but she wasn't strong on the ball. She could get knocked off the ball easily," F&M's second-year coach Missy Krempa explained. "She knew the game really well, but her play wasn't up to where it needed to be."
McLaren was devastated after being cut.
The Mount Saint Joseph Academy alum knew she could play at the collegiate level.
She spent four years in high school on a team that won four league titles, a pair of District One crowns and finished runner-up in the state tournament.
"I expected myself to make the team," McLaren admitted. "I felt like everyone expected me to make it because I was on a good team in high school. I played with girls that went Division I. I knew I could play with those girls and I knew I could play here."
Stuck at a crossroads, McLaren had two choices: give up and move on, or fight to keep playing the sport she loved.
One road would be smooth and clear, the other bumpy and challenging.
McLaren wanted a challenge.
"A lot of times kids these days feel that if it's not working out for them they'll quit," Krempa said. "For Ally, it wasn't working out for her but she decided that she would work for it. Kids in general don't do that much anymore."
McLaren spent the following months running, lifting weights and working on her stick skills in addition to playing with the Diplomats in winter and spring leagues.
"She looked better and stronger and I knew she would make the team in the fall," Krempa recalled.
Just making the team wasn't enough for McLaren as she proved in her collegiate debut.
Coming off of the bench against then No. 17-ranked Elizabethtown in the first game of the season, McLaren scored twice in the Diplomats' 3-2 upset.
She went on to lead F&M with eight goals while adding three assists as the Diplomats (10-8) reached the Centennial Conference playoffs before falling. Her best game was a hat trick against Muhlenberg which garnered her Centennial Conference Player of Week.
"She didn't start our first game, but I put her in 10 minutes into it and she didn't leave the field after that," Krempa said.
"She proved me wrong, which is awesome. I'm so proud of her."
McLaren also exceeded her admittedly low expectations for her first season.
"One of my goals was to score a few goals and start in a few games," she admitted. "I didn't expect to score as many goals as I did and to be starting in almost every game."
McLaren's story is an inspirational tale that Krempa will use as motivation for her future teams.
"I told her story to the team this year saying, 'look what you can do with hard work and being determined,' " Krempa said. "She's the epitome of not quitting."
And for the person who lived that story, her message is simple.
"If you really work at something, and really love it," says McLaren. "You need to play as hard as you can and something will work for you."
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