Scoring goals in lacrosse requires sheer relentlessness, brutal determination and a certain amount of feistiness to counter the violent stick checks of opposing defensemen. As the youngest of eight siblings, junior attacker Mary Key first acquired these traits in her own backyard.
"Being the youngest with a bunch of older siblings around, I had to get used to sometimes being picked on or whatever comes with the role of being the youngest child," the junior Key said. "I picked up a lot of feistiness from having to play backyard soccer or whatever against people bigger than me."
Key aptly proved that she easily can move through bigger defensemen en route to the net, as she set the Hopkins Division I points record against Towson this past Tuesday. Key contributed six goals as the Blue Jays handily defeated the Tigers 15-11. Beating the net-minder 53 times, Key has powered the nationally No. 12 ranked Blue Jays to a very respectable 12-3 record.
"Going into this season, I didn't really set any distinct goals," Key said. "My only goal was to work hard and push myself in each and every game. I feel that if I just work hard out on the field, the goals and statistics will come as a result."
Growing up in a household centered on athletics, Key credits her upbringing for instilling in her a diligent work ethic and a drive to produce in the clutch.
"My parents stressed to us at an early age how important it was to be involved in something. They wanted us to be playing outside and not inside watching television," Key said. "Getting involved in sports, at a young age, taught me the importance of working hard and being active."
In addition to participating briefly in basketball and softball leagues, Key started playing soccer in third grade. As a sixth grader, she joined a club soccer team, whose roster was composed of nearly all older high school girls, including her older sister.
"Playing with older girls at that juncture in my life, I learned to play a faster game which made my body and mind move a lot quicker. This really helped me as an athlete in general, as it helped me learn to play a little outside of my comfort zone," Key said.
Despite only standing around 4'1" in seventh grade, she recalled attaining the respect of her older and larger teammates despite this.
"They sort of looked out for me and protected me in a way," Key said. "With my sister there, it was nice because we had played and grew up a lot together on the soccer field and in daily life in general."
After moving back to Maryland from New York, Key, as a fifth grader, attended a lacrosse camp located on the Eastern Shore with her sister.
"This was really the first time I had experienced lacrosse. I was a little old for picking up a new sport, but I think my conditioning and knowledge of soccer allowed me to pick it up fast."
From experiencing soccer games to going to lacrosse camps with her sister, she said that they forged a meaningful sibling relationship.
"Even though she is three years older than me, we still spent a lot of time together growing up," Key said. "We've had one of those classic sibling relationships, full of battles followed by shopping trips. I still talk to her a lot now, mostly on the phone, or sometimes I see her at an occasional game of mine."
Although she has created her own collegiate sports legacy, Key remembers being present at her eldest brother's lacrosse games and wrestling matches, when he represented McDaniel.
"I was really young at the time and despite having few memories, I have a picture frame on my desk, showing him holding me after a lacrosse game," she said.
Although her brother's involvement in collegiate activities did not directly inspire her to pursue a lacrosse career at Johns Hopkins, Key still sees the picture as a source of motivation, a reminder of her family's support and a keepsake from a cherished childhood.
After the end of competition this week, Keys became the official record holder of both the single- game, single-season and career scoring. As her legend continues to grow, one thign is for sure - Keys is one of the best players ever to take the field, male or female, and play for JHU.
