After hitting 100 mark, Pine-Richland lacrosse standout looks to next goal

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, April 20, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Previous Next

Madeline Mill had a lot of family members in the stands April 9 hoping to see her score the 100th goal of her Pine-Richland girls lacrosse career.

And she ended up getting help from the family member to hit the century mark.

Mill was set up by her younger sister Claire, a freshman on the team, for the 100th goal of her career, which came during a 12-8 victory against Shady Side Academy.

“It was a super cool moment and something I feel I’ve worked really hard for, but what made it even more special was my sister assisting on the goal,” Mill said. “It made it even cooler because I hit this milestone in my life and she was able to be a part of it. She’s really good, and I’m excited I get to play with her the next two years.”

Mill finished with a hat trick and she needed all three goals to get to 100. Afterwards, she was presented with the ball she scored her 100th with.

She’s unsure what she’ll do with the ball, but it’s certainly a keepsake.

The accomplishment is impressive on its own, but what makes it even more remarkable is she reached it in only two and a half seasons.

Mill grew up in a family of lacrosse players and has enjoyed playing the sport since an early age.

“My mom played lacrosse in college, kind of unintentionally,” Mill said. “She was going to be a runner at Duquesne, but they started a lacrosse team her first year there, so she tried out and ended up loving it. I have two older brothers that started in lacrosse early. They didn’t go on to play in high school, but when they started, I picked it up and my sister did too. I’ve been playing (organized) lacrosse since fourth grade, but I really started when I was in second grade playing in the backyard with my brothers.”

Mill will follow in her mother’s footsteps and play lacrosse in college. She’s committed to Pitt, a school that’s fairly new on the lacrosse scene.

The Panthers are currently in their third season as a program.

“I always knew I wanted to go to a big school and I felt like Pitt had everything to offer,” Mill said. “It’s a big school, it’s close to home, and it has a new program that’s playing against the top programs. That’s really all I’ve ever wanted is to play against the best and help build up a new program.”

Mill is also a member of the field hockey team that’s won five consecutive WPIAL championships.

She was a part of a district double last year with Pine-Richland winning the field hockey and girls lacrosse championships.

Half of a repeat of that feat has been accomplished with another field hockey title. Now she’d love to help the Rams win another girls lacrosse title.

“It’s a different team this year with all the girls that graduated, but we have some younger girls that are putting in a lot of effort,” Mill said. “We lost to Peters Township early on, but ever since then, we’ve come together and adjusted to become the best that we can be. Our coaches have been amazing. The last two years, they’ve given us everything they can and now it’s up to us to continue to come together. I think we have what it takes. I know we lost a lot of girls from last year, but we have the talent to get us there to get another one.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland