George Washington University Athletics
Buff & Blue Forever Presented by Capgemini: Megan McCormick
4/24/2020 12:00:00 PM | Women's Soccer, My GW: Celebrating our Stories
McCormick's leadership lifted GW women's soccer
On GW women's soccer Senior Day last fall, Megan McCormick and her five fellow honorees had an important request: The Colonials dropped the lights in their locker room, turned on a multi-colored strobe and rocked out to Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams.
The impromptu dance party set the mood for a rain-soaked 2-1 win over St. Bonaventure on an unforgettable October afternoon on the Mount Vernon Campus.
"I just remember feeling so happy," McCormick recounted with a laugh. "That's how I want to remember playing soccer at GW. Just all the great moments that I had like that being with my best friends."
Over five years in Buff and Blue, McCormick's commitment to excellence on and off the field set a shining example for her teammates to follow, and the Delaware native's caring and positive leadership style brought the Colonials together and kept them united through the ups and downs sure to come in a soccer season.
McCormick's impact was especially evident during GW's memorable 2019 run. Beyond her steady play at center back anchoring a defense that allowed just 25 goals in 21 games and her career-high five scores, the three-year captain played a crucial role helping a new-look group peak at the right time on the way to the program's first Atlantic 10 final appearance since 1997.
"She connected with everybody on our team," GW head coach Michelle Demko said. "She made sure that she was talking to every single person. She understood that everybody's value matters and is critical to the success that we had in the fall and want to continue to have moving forward. I think when you have a leader like that it really shows, and our players really had such a high belief in Meg."
McCormick's start at GW helped shape her understanding of leadership.
Two weeks into her first preseason with the Colonials back in 2015, the staff asked if she'd consider redshirting to build strength and experience.
After agreeing, McCormick wasn't certain if she'd made the right decision. It was difficult to watch every game from the sideline.
Still, she threw herself into scout team work best she could. Praise from veterans like Kristi Abbate and MacKenzie Cowley for her approach to an often-thankless role meant so much back then.
"It was definitely a big adjustment, but it was also a really great learning experience," said McCormick, who would go on to start 74 games and log nearly 7,000 minutes in her four seasons on the field. "There were so many girls on the team who recognized what I was doing and how hard I was working to be a good teammate that it just made it all worth it."
Looking back, McCormick is grateful for the opportunity to redshirt because it set the stage for last fall's fantastic finish.
It was clear right away that the Colonials had the talent for a special season, but there were so many new faces that building chemistry was going to take time. A rooftop barbecue during fall camp helped jumpstart the bonding, and the camaraderie grew from there -- one team dinner and locker room dance party at a time.
After a season-opening loss at William & Mary, GW put together a 16-match unbeaten streak that included a 7-0-2 start to A-10 play.
"Things were just clicking at the perfect time," said McCormick, who was tabbed to the All-Conference First Team. "We were having so much fun on and off the field, and I really think that contributed to our success."
The Colonials went into the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed and proceeded to earn wins over Saint Joseph's and UMass to earn the chance to play for a title.
Late in the 2-1 win over the Minutewomen, McCormick had the opportunity to take a look around Saint Louis' Hermann Stadium and soak in the moment.
"I had never been in that position before," McCormick said. "It's funny as a fifth-year, you're like 'Oh I've experienced everything,' but I'd never been in that situation before. I remember thinking 'Wow, this is really happening.'"
While GW's bid for an A-10 title and NCAA berth fell short vs. the host Billikens two days later, the ending didn't diminish the group's good feelings.
McCormick was invaluable the whole way. The defender's physical presence in the back made a difference time and again, while her constant communication helped keep the unit organized. Her strength in the air became a major weapon offensively for the Colonials on set pieces.
Add in the leadership piece, and Demko has a hard time quantifying all McCormick did for this squad.
"That was one of the most gratifying seasons to me that I've ever coached," Demko said. "It really had nothing to do with the wins and losses, but it had everything to do with the way this group came together and loved each other. And Meg was a big, big, big reason for that."
Ultimately, McCormick's legacy at GW stretches beyond what she helped the Colonials accomplish on the field.
McCormick earned her undergraduate degree in Organizational Sciences with a minor in Psychology last May, and she's just wrapping up the first of three years working on a master's in Health Administration with an eye on a career in the medical field.
McCormick's friendship with Special Olympian Jeremy Wayne led her to get involved there.
Last school year, she helped organize a Special Olympics kickball tournament at the Vern, and she's led her team's efforts to raise thousands of dollars for the organization through the D.C. Polar Plunge the past two years.
As much as anything else, those efforts highlight McCormick's secret to success.
"I want to be remembered as a good teammate and a good friend and someone who gave more than they took," McCormick said. "Someone who was there for people and tried to be a positive light and energy in everyone else's lives."
The impromptu dance party set the mood for a rain-soaked 2-1 win over St. Bonaventure on an unforgettable October afternoon on the Mount Vernon Campus.
"I just remember feeling so happy," McCormick recounted with a laugh. "That's how I want to remember playing soccer at GW. Just all the great moments that I had like that being with my best friends."
Over five years in Buff and Blue, McCormick's commitment to excellence on and off the field set a shining example for her teammates to follow, and the Delaware native's caring and positive leadership style brought the Colonials together and kept them united through the ups and downs sure to come in a soccer season.
McCormick's impact was especially evident during GW's memorable 2019 run. Beyond her steady play at center back anchoring a defense that allowed just 25 goals in 21 games and her career-high five scores, the three-year captain played a crucial role helping a new-look group peak at the right time on the way to the program's first Atlantic 10 final appearance since 1997.
"She connected with everybody on our team," GW head coach Michelle Demko said. "She made sure that she was talking to every single person. She understood that everybody's value matters and is critical to the success that we had in the fall and want to continue to have moving forward. I think when you have a leader like that it really shows, and our players really had such a high belief in Meg."
McCormick's start at GW helped shape her understanding of leadership.
Two weeks into her first preseason with the Colonials back in 2015, the staff asked if she'd consider redshirting to build strength and experience.
After agreeing, McCormick wasn't certain if she'd made the right decision. It was difficult to watch every game from the sideline.
Still, she threw herself into scout team work best she could. Praise from veterans like Kristi Abbate and MacKenzie Cowley for her approach to an often-thankless role meant so much back then.
"It was definitely a big adjustment, but it was also a really great learning experience," said McCormick, who would go on to start 74 games and log nearly 7,000 minutes in her four seasons on the field. "There were so many girls on the team who recognized what I was doing and how hard I was working to be a good teammate that it just made it all worth it."
Looking back, McCormick is grateful for the opportunity to redshirt because it set the stage for last fall's fantastic finish.
It was clear right away that the Colonials had the talent for a special season, but there were so many new faces that building chemistry was going to take time. A rooftop barbecue during fall camp helped jumpstart the bonding, and the camaraderie grew from there -- one team dinner and locker room dance party at a time.
After a season-opening loss at William & Mary, GW put together a 16-match unbeaten streak that included a 7-0-2 start to A-10 play.
"Things were just clicking at the perfect time," said McCormick, who was tabbed to the All-Conference First Team. "We were having so much fun on and off the field, and I really think that contributed to our success."
The Colonials went into the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed and proceeded to earn wins over Saint Joseph's and UMass to earn the chance to play for a title.
Late in the 2-1 win over the Minutewomen, McCormick had the opportunity to take a look around Saint Louis' Hermann Stadium and soak in the moment.
"I had never been in that position before," McCormick said. "It's funny as a fifth-year, you're like 'Oh I've experienced everything,' but I'd never been in that situation before. I remember thinking 'Wow, this is really happening.'"
While GW's bid for an A-10 title and NCAA berth fell short vs. the host Billikens two days later, the ending didn't diminish the group's good feelings.
McCormick was invaluable the whole way. The defender's physical presence in the back made a difference time and again, while her constant communication helped keep the unit organized. Her strength in the air became a major weapon offensively for the Colonials on set pieces.
Add in the leadership piece, and Demko has a hard time quantifying all McCormick did for this squad.
"That was one of the most gratifying seasons to me that I've ever coached," Demko said. "It really had nothing to do with the wins and losses, but it had everything to do with the way this group came together and loved each other. And Meg was a big, big, big reason for that."
Ultimately, McCormick's legacy at GW stretches beyond what she helped the Colonials accomplish on the field.
McCormick earned her undergraduate degree in Organizational Sciences with a minor in Psychology last May, and she's just wrapping up the first of three years working on a master's in Health Administration with an eye on a career in the medical field.
McCormick's friendship with Special Olympian Jeremy Wayne led her to get involved there.
Last school year, she helped organize a Special Olympics kickball tournament at the Vern, and she's led her team's efforts to raise thousands of dollars for the organization through the D.C. Polar Plunge the past two years.
As much as anything else, those efforts highlight McCormick's secret to success.
"I want to be remembered as a good teammate and a good friend and someone who gave more than they took," McCormick said. "Someone who was there for people and tried to be a positive light and energy in everyone else's lives."
Players Mentioned
Defense
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