Erin O’Neal excelled in both lacrosse and field hockey at Washington College and played on some of the best teams in both programs’ early histories.
As a top defensive player on the lacrosse field, she was twice named a first-team Regional All-American and was tabbed as a Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star as a senior. She was twice chosen for the USWLA Women’s National Tournament South Team and three times tabbed for the Maryland College Women’s Lacrosse Association Select Team.
In three of Erin’s four years on the lacrosse team, the Shorewomen finished above .500. Her sophomore season saw the team win 11 games, a mark which would stand as the school record for 10 years, and advance to the MAC Tournament. The following year, the Shorewomen went 9-3, winning a share of their MAC Divisional Championship, competing in the MAC Tournament, and achieving a peak national ranking of 10th during the season.
Erin was a nearly equally adept player on the field hockey field, scoring nine career goals while also playing strong defense. She was chosen for the 1988 DCFH Southeast Association Select Team and the 1989 MWCFH USFHA Southeast Tournament Team IV. The field hockey team posting a winning record each of her four seasons, including a 10-3-1 mark in 1990, the first time the team had ever won 10 or more games in a season.
Erin was awarded with the College’s Eldridge Eliason Award her senior year and stayed on the following year to serve as an assistant coach for both sports. She has since spent over 20 years working for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and several volunteer programs.
Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct Erin O’Neal into its Athletic Hall of Fame on this 1st day of October, 2016.
